So you’ve decided you’d like to be Polish

Pierogi

Make a pot of mashed potatoes (peeled and using about 8 medium sized) and add 2 cups of cheddar cheese. (preference is sharp.)

Make your dough:
1 egg
¾ C water
1 tsp salt
3 ½ - 4 C flour

Mix (I use a kitchenaid with a dough hook). Roll out THIN (a pasta maker works wonders here. Make long strips of dough, 5 inches high. Emulating how you would fill ravioli, go down each and add a nice spoonful of mashed potato. Cut and fold each pierogi, sealing edges with a fork. Boil in a hot pot of water a few at a time until they float.

In a frying pan, melt 2 sticks of butter (margarine is okay) with a diced yellow or white onion. Add 16 oz of cottage cheese. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve over boiled pierogi.

This is THE Polish-Czech dish of my growing up. I love my Halupki and cabbage and sauerkraut. But nothing marks my unique cooking upbringing more than this dish. It takes time. It’s completely undiet friendly. But my dad taught me how to make this, we made it together, this IS one of my favorite memories. Enjoy.

This isn’t a Diet Salad

Aunt Ruthie’s Blue Cheese Dressing

Mix together and refrigerate:
3 oz of cream cheese
1/3 C of Roquefort cheese, crumbled
½ C Sour Cream
½ C mayo
1/4 T salt
1/8 T garlic powder
¼ T mustard
1 T lemon juice

I’m not kidding. This stuff is thick. It’s sinful. It’s even good as a dip for a stealthy kettle chip. It’s also great on burgers, along side buffalo wings (or a more healthy buffalo chicken sandwich – if you want to forget the “healthy” tag)…

Food is Love

Love Dip

(adapted from the Houston Chronicle)
Ingredients:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup tomato salsa
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon crumbled dried tarragon or 2 leaves fresh tarragon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chopped cilantro
1/8 teaspoon lemon juice

Method:
Throw all the ingredients except lemon juice in a blender and mix until smooth. Add lemon juice to taste.

Warning: This stuff is addicting. You will have garlic breath. I highly recommend it as a sandwich spread! It’s pretty darn fantastic!