I guess it must say something about me that instead of making cookies I’ve started to opt for 3 hour long multi-phase weekend projects…but being that soon The Prairies will start to bake and crack like clay in the sun, my days where I can play over the stove and live to tell about it are limited. I’m trying to take advantage before cooking on the stove will give me heat stroke.

I love making simple, old fashioned food – almost as much as I love simple, old fashioned stories, houses, people, and cities. I live in a 100 year old home, what can you expect? So the pleasure of straight forward comfort food is never lost on me, and neither is the indulgence of eating anything that involves home made dough when it’s still warm from the pot.

Recipe after the jump…
{images: by me}

Recipe (from More Than Burnt Toast)
Dough:
5 cups flour
1 T salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/1-2 cups warm water

Filling:
1/4 cup butter
3 cups potatoes, mashed
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (or 1 cup cottage cheese or 1 cup sauteed sauerkraut)
Salt and pepper to taste

• In bowl, combine flour with salt. Beat remaining ingredients and mix together
• Ensure dough is soft but not too sticky. (These proportions worked perfectly for me, but if necessary, add 1 T water at a time until it forms a ball)
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface; knead about 10 times or just until smooth. Halve dough; cover with plastic wrap or damp cloth. Let rest for 20 minutes.
• Make mashed potato cheesy buttery filling!
• Work with one portion of dough at a time, keeping remaining dough covered, roll out on lightly floured surface to about 1/16th-inch thickness.
• Using a 3-inch round cutter (I used a big mason jar), cut dough into rounds.
• Place 1 tsp filling on each round.
• Lightly moisten edge of one half of the dough with water; pinch edges together to seal and crimp attractively.
• Place on cloth; cover with damp cloth to prevent drying out. Repeat with remaining portion of dough
• Boil 1 – 2 mins until perogies float. Serve immediately or store for 1 week.