Written with love, by Sarah-Elizabeth Stone
An entire meal starts with an amazing appetizer – especially when you’ve gathered friends and family to enjoy a great dinner. I absolutely love organizing a friendly dinner night. Everything from who is bringing what, to the who is who of allergies and intolerances (I always win that one). It might be crazy, but dinner parties are the highlight of my week.
During the organization of this fantastic dinner night, we all love to drop a line with one another to check in and confirm what everyone might bring to the table. The conversations are always filled with the standard emoticons and inside jokes. Let’s face it, a girl has got to add in that bright red balloon once in a while!
In the end, everything tastes amazing and it is always fun to make. This week’s date night focuses on a friend’s appetizer, “cheesy perogies”! These are not only easy to create, but could be a side kick to a meal or standalone app.
Ingredients // The Filling
· 1 onion, finely chopped
· 4-5 potatoes, mashed
· 3-5 strips of bacon
· ½ cup of a variety of cheeses
· 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese
Ingredients // The Dough
· 2 ½ cups of flour
· ½ teaspoon of salt
· 1 egg
· 2 teaspoons of oil
· ¾ cups of warm water
Directions // The Filling
1. Boil potatoes with some salt water, finely chop up onions, and cook bacon on medium heat
2. Once potatoes are done cooking, mash up and set aside to cool along with the rest of the cooked fillings
3. Chop up bacon into ‘bits’ and set aside
Directions // The Dough
4. To begin dough, mix flour with salt, in a deep bowl, add in the egg, oil and water
5. Knead on a wooden cutting board or cool surface until smooth (be careful not to over knead the dough, this creates a tough pastry)
6. Divide dough into two separate parts, cover with a tea towel to let stand for 10 minutes
Prep/Cooking
7. Mix together all the filling ingredients once cooled, add in cheese and stir
8. Roll out the dough roughly 1’ thick and use a glass cup to create small circles
9. Take a spoonful of filling and place it in the middle of the circle, fold together and pinch closed
10. Cook in boiling water for 5-8 minutes, then fry in a pan for about a minute per side
11. Top with grated cheese, bacon bits and garnish.
