I cook 2

The August 2010 Daring Cooks’ Challenge was hosted by LizG of Bits n’ Bites and Anula of Anula’s Kitchen. They chose to challenge Daring Cooks to make pierogi from scratch and an optional challenge to provide one filling that best represents their locale.

Imagine having to make a batch of homemade pierogi in someone else's kitchen?  This was what I faced when I read the Daring Cook challenge recipe about a month ago, sitting in my North American home.  Knowing that I couldn't complete the recipe before we left for London, making the recipe in the London flat kitchen was my only option.  I stared at the recipe, as it called for a pierogi form.  A pierogi form, I asked myself.  Hmm.  After staring mutely (still dumbfounded that I had to make something I could pick up at the store for about $3 and toss into boiling water and be on the couch with, within 5 minutes) at the photos given in the recipe, I realize that I had what Anula was calling a pierogi form.  Indeed, I found the little gem hidden in the dark crevices of the top shelf in the kitchen.  Again, thank you Mom.  Never used, could come in handy.  The recipe also called for the contraption that separated the egg yolk from the rest of the egg -- check.  I found that little gem in our kitchen and tossed it into the 'to pack' pile beginning to accumulate in the middle of our living room floor.

Fast forward to 2 days before the challenge due date.  London flat.  I'd forgotten the pierogi form (note that I had just stared at it and yelled to Mr. Fine that we had one earlier in the month and did not, in fact, add it to the 'to pack' pile). 

I made the potato mixture, smelling it and oohing over the fact that it smelled like the pierogis we bought at home:

I made the dough (and a mess on the counter, of course) and let it sit for 20 minutes:

Then, I rolled the dough and cut out circles using the only circle we could find in the flat: the top lip of a preserve jar (note again that I didn't bring the actual pierogi form):

I filled the pierogi, boiled them, fried them, and ate them!  The inside was delicious but the dough was a bit tough to get through.  

 

 

 

An interesting experience!

Should you wish to also try homemade pierogis you can find the recipe here.