Homemade Potato and Cheese Pierogis

 

 Homemade Potato and Cheese Pierogis

 Dough:

2 cups flour
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup potato, well mashed
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Filling:

1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup butter
2 -3 cooked russet potatoes, mashed
1 cup grated mild white cheddar

Cook potatoes until fork tender and drain well. Put potatoes back in warm pot to dry. Using a hand mixer, whip potatoes until fluffy and add salt and pepper to taste.

Saute onion in butter until tender and translucent. Mix with potatoes, and add cheese while the mixture is still hot. Let filling cool before using (place in fridge.)

Dough

Mix dough ingredients together. You may have to add a little more liquid or a little more flour to make the dough soft and somewhat sticky. Turn onto a floured surface and knead more flour into dough- just enough to make it easier to handle. The dough will be slightly sticky. Do not over-knead. Place dough in an oiled bowl and cover and let rest for rest for 30 minutes.

Once filling has cooled enough to handle, roll mixture into balls the size of a walnut (about 1 tablespoon) and set aside.

Next roll your dough out on a flour surface to 1/8th inch thick. You may need more flour as you roll. Cut out circles approximately 3 inches in diameter. I use a wide glass for this. Now place your filling balls into the center of the dough circles. Fold dough over ball, and pinch edges to form a half circle. Smear a little water on the filling of the dough at the edges, and keep your fingers floured when you pinch (on the non-filling side.) In order to prevent pierogies from drying out, keep finished pierogies on a floured surface, and cover with a floured clean dishcloth.

Fill a large pot with water and bring to full rolling boil. Place several pierogies in boiling water. Stir once, gently with a slotted spoon. Pierogies are done when they float for a minute (this will take 2-3 minutes). Drain pierogies with a slotted spoon and place in bowl.

In skillet, melt about 1/4 cup butter. Fry pierogies on low to medium heat until lightly browned on both sides. Keep heat low as Pierogies will get tough if cooked on high heat. Serve with sour cream.

Photography property of ©Welcome Home

♥ Potato Latkes

 

Potato Latkes

1 package Shredded Hash Browns
2 eggs
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion...
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

In large bowl stir together Potatoes, eggs, flour, green onion, pepper, salt, and baking powder. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat.

Cook 4 latkes at a time: spread 1/4 cup potato mixture for each latke into 3 1/2-inch circles in skillet. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, turning once. Repeat with remaining potato mixture and add oil to skillet as needed. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Recipe adapted from
http://www.simplypotatoes.com/recipes/potato-latkes-recipe/0117a

♥ Stained Glass Fireplace Screen

Isn't this pretty? I love homey things...you know those things that make a place feel like home. I love scented candles and homemade wreaths for my door, and all those things that say welcome to my home.

Last year I treated myself to thi...s stain glass fireplace screen that I found at online store for a great price. Now I see them at Amazon.com for a lot less than what I paid for it. The workmanship on this folding screen is so incredible and it looks like a fine work of art. It's so pretty just sitting here, but when you light the fire, it comes alive as it creates a prism effect all around the room when the lights are dim.

I just love it and thought I would share it with you. If you're interested you can buy it by clicking on the link.....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YAP0F4/ref=as_li_ss_sm_fb_us_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=399837&creativeASIN=B002YAP0F4&linkCode=shr&tag=welchome08-20&qid=1376780702&sr=8-2&keywords=stained+glass+fireplace+screen

♥ Fried Bologna Sandwiches ("Baloney Samiches")

Okay...I am going to dig down to my southern roots today and pull out a sandwich that my Mom used to make for me when I was growing up. I still love them today and I think of her every time I make a fried Bologna sandwich. Oh who am I tryin...g to impress? Make that a fried "Baloney Samich". We didn't eat cold baloney when I was growing up anymore than we would eat cold uncooked hot dogs. My Mom fried our baloney samiches and our hot dogs!

If you've never had one fried you don't know what you're missing! Fry it up crisp and slap it on white bread with a little mayo and you'll never eat a cold one again! Am I right my Southern friends?


Fried "Baloney Samiches"

Three slices of your favorite Bologna
Good quality mayo (I use Helmans)
1 tablespoon of butter
fresh white bread
Optional: Tomato, cheese, lettuce or whatever you want.

Slice the baloney along the edges so it will lay flat. If you don't it will puff up in the middle and the center will not get brown. Melt butter in skillet and fry Baloney over medium high heat until brown and crispy on the edges. Serve on white bread with a little mayo and what ever toppings you choose. Oh Yum!

Photography property of ©Welcome Home

♥ Bacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwich

We're talking about sandwiches today at Welcome Home....who doesn't love a BLT? Thick sliced bacon baked in the oven, crisp iceburg lettuce, and a big ripe tomato on white bread slathered with good mayo. I just made this one. The bacon was ...still sizzling when I snapped the picture!

Bacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwich

3 slices thick bacon (I love pepper bacon too!)
mayo (I like Helmans Real Mayo)
iceburg lettuce
Slice of ripe tomato

Assemble bacon on rack over foil lined baking sheet bake in oven at 350 degrees until crisp. Bacon will not shrink this way and no need to drain on paper towels. Assemble sandwich with mayo, lettuce leaves and tomato. Top with bacon. Yum!

Photography Property of ©Welcome Home

♥ Roast Chicken Legs with Lemon Butter

One of my favorite dinners to make because it is so simple and so good. This is a great recipe for roast chicken as you can taste just a touch of lemon. My Dad says I made the creamiest mashed potatoes and fresh peas are always a great side.... Doesn't this just spell comfort food?

Roast Chicken Legs with Lemon Butter

 6 whole Chicken legs and thighs, 

 rinsed And Patted Dry.
 3/4 cups Butter, Softened
  3 whole Lemons
  4 sprigs Rosemary
Salt And Pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Zest two of the lemons. Strip the leaves off of one of the rosemary sprigs and chop it up finely. In a bowl, combine softened butter, lemon zest, rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil and lay the patted-dry chicken on the foil, breast side up.

Use your fingers to smear the butter mixture all over the chicken, under the skin, and inside the cavity. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice of one lemon all over the chicken. Place the six lemon halves (if they'll fit!) and the three remaining rosemary leaves into the cavity of the bird. Place the chicken into the oven and roast it for 1 hour, 15 minutes or until done. Skin should be deep golden brown and juices should be sizzling.
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Creamy Mashed Potatoes

2 lb Yukon gold or russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup of butter
½ cup evaporated milk (more or less as needed)
Salt and pepper

In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a boil. Add potatoes and cook uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain potatoes very well in a colander and transfer them back to the pot which will dry them out a little more. Add butter and milk and whip at medium low speed with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Feel free to add more butter and milk a little at a time to get the consistency you want. Season with salt and pepper while mixing.
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Chicken Gravy

2 cups of drippings from roast chicken
1/2 cup cold water
1 tablespoon corn starch (or more as needed)
salt and pepper to taste

In the bottom of the baking dish after roasting the chicken in the oven. Pour the drippings into a large sauce pan. If there is lots of fat skim some of it off. Heat the drippings up, over medium- heat and bring it to a boil.

In another bowl add 1 tablespoon corn starch to 1/2 cup of cold water. Mix till all the lumps are out of the corn starch and it is well mixed… then you can slowly add it your chicken drippings. Whisk the whole time, to prevent lumps. Stir at a full boil for 1 minute, then turn heat off and let stand for 1 minute. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve over chicken and mashed potatoes.

If you like your gravy a little thicker add a little more corn starch to your “corn starch water mixture”

Photography ©Welcome Home
Chicken Recipe Adapted from Pioneer Woman

♥ Caprese Pasta Salad (Orecchiette Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Mozzarella)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday while shopping at a local grocery store (Wegmans), I watched a simple demonstration on how to prepare this pasta dish. So I came home and made it myself. It's made up of only three ingredients but out of this world good! Sort of ...like a Caprese Salad but even more delicious. You've gotta try this one!

Orecchiette Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Mozzarella

1 bag orecchiette pasta (also called little ears)
1 container roasted sun dried tomatoes in olive oil
1 container of FRESH pea-size mozzarella balls
Optional: parsley or chopped basil for garnish

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally

Cook pasta until tender. When pasta is done drain well and set aside to cool. Once the pasta is cool, stir in the roasted sun dried tomatoes along with all the oil that is in the container they come in and toss. Add mozzarella balls and toss again. Enjoy!

Photography ©Welcome Home

♥ Roast Chicken with Lemon Butter

One of my favorite dinners to make because it is so simple and so good. This is a great recipe for roast chicken as you can taste just a touch of lemon. My Dad says I made the creamiest mashed potatoes and fresh peas are always a great si...de. Doesn't this just spell comfort food?

Roast Chicken with Lemon Butter

1 whole Chicken, Rinsed & Patted Dry
3/4 cups Butter, Softened
3 whole Lemons
4 sprigs Rosemary
Salt And Pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Zest two of the lemons. Strip the leaves off of one of the rosemary sprigs and chop it up finely. In a bowl, combine softened butter, lemon zest, rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil and lay the patted-dry chicken on the foil, breast side up.

Use your fingers to smear the butter mixture all over the chicken, under the skin, and inside the cavity. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice of one lemon all over the chicken. Place the six lemon halves (if they'll fit!) and the three remaining rosemary leaves into the cavity of the bird. Place the chicken into the oven and roast it for 1 hour, 15 minutes or until done. Skin should be deep golden brown and juices should be sizzling.
__________________________________________

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

2 lb Yukon gold or russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup of butter
½ cup evaporated milk (more or less as needed)
Salt and pepper

In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a boil. Add potatoes and cook uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain potatoes very well in a colander and transfer them back to the pot which will dry them out a little more. Add butter and milk and whip at medium low speed with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Feel free to add more butter and milk a little at a time to get the consistency you want. Season with salt and pepper while mixing.
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Chicken Gravy

2 cups of drippings from roast chicken
1/2 cup cold water
1 tablespoon corn starch (or more as needed)
salt and pepper to taste

In the bottom of the baking dish after roasting the chicken in the oven. Pour the drippings into a large sauce pan. If there is lots of fat skim some of it off. Heat the drippings up, over medium- heat and bring it to a boil.

In another bowl add 1 tablespoon corn starch to 1/2 cup of cold water. Mix till all the lumps are out of the corn starch and it is well mixed… then you can slowly add it your chicken drippings. Whisk the whole time, to prevent lumps. Stir at a full boil for 1 minute, then turn heat off and let stand for 1 minute. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve over chicken and mashed potatoes.

If you like your gravy a little thicker add a little more corn starch to your “corn starch water mixture”

Photography ©Welcome Home

♥ Progressive Collapsible Cake Carrier

I love this food carrier....I am always baking cupcakes, pies and layer cakes and even deviled eggs to take to parties and cookouts. I could never find a carrier that would work for me. If I baked a three layer cake the frosting would alway...s touch the top. Cupcakes and deviled eggs would slide everywhere. But this past week I ordered this carrier and I love it.

It is collapsible so I can make it tall for cakes or short for pies and deviled eggs! I can even fit a tall 5 layer cake in it and it holds up 12-24 cupcakes. And the best part...I can collapse it and store it flat in my cabinet!

Thought I would share my find with you today.....here's the link if you're interested. Remember, anything you buy through Welcome Home supports the NO KILL Advocacy Group to save the lives of dogs and cats who are killed unnecessarily while they wait for their forever homes. So any purchase through my page goes to support a good cause.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZSCTMO/ref=as_li_ss_sm_fb_us_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=399837&creativeASIN=B00AZSCTMO&linkCode=shr&tag=welchome08-20&qid=1376943980&sr=8-1&keywords=progressive++cupcake+and+cake+carrier

♥ Humming Bird Cake

Humming Bird Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar...
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 cup chopped pecans
2 cups chopped bananas

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup pecans

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not beat.) Stir in vanilla, pineapple, 1 cup pecans, and bananas.

Pour batter into two greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake; sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans on top. Store in refrigerator.

http://www.mandyeats.com/?p=1580