Vareniki (Pierogi)

By Nadejda Reilly

This easy to read and simple cookbook includes over 140 delicious recipes of savory- and sweet-filling vareniki (pierogi) and several varieties of gluten and gluten-free vareniki (pierogi) dough, as well as other dishes that could be made from them. Aside from delicious recipes, stories about faith and power of prayers are included. Lessons that could be learned from them are supported with breathtaking scriptures from the Living Word of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462859153

Nadejda Reilly

Nadejda Reilly is the author of the “ Ukrainian Cuisine With An American Touch And Ingredients” both gluten and gluten-free versions. She started a new chapter in her life and for the last four years of it she is walking in faith and obedience to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Looking carefully at her life she truly realized that Jesus is faithful in helping and supporting her from the moment of her birth to this present time and only by His mercy and grace she is alive and living victorious today.

Book preview

Vareniki (Pierogi)

Ukrainian Cuisine

With an American Touch and Ingredients

Nadejda Reilly

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2011 by Nadejda Reilly.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2011906069

ISBN: Hardcover    978-1-4628-5914-6

ISBN: Softcover     978-1-4628-5913-9

ISBN: Ebook          978-1-4628-5915-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

94559

Contents

About the Book

Vareniki (Pierogi) Origin

About Vareniki (Pierogi): Dish Tradition and Story Behind It

Vareniki (Pierogi) Ukrainian Food Terminology

Vareniki (Pierogi) Ukrainian Nonfood Terminology

Vareniki (Pierogi) Dishes to Enjoy

Suggested Vareniki (Pierogi ) Equipment

Vareniki (Pierogi) Cooking Time Table

Approximate Amount of Raw and Cooked Grains Table

Measuring Cups and Spoons Table

Approximate Average Weight of the Fruits

Approximate Average Weight of the Vegetables

VARENIKI (PIEROGI) DOUGH VARIETIES, CRISPS, AND WRAPS

Ways to Assemble Vareniki (Pierogi)

Traditional Water Base Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough(Party Batch)

Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough Varieties

Traditional Water Base Vareniki (Pierogi ) Dough(Single Batch)

Traditional Sour Cream Base Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough(Single Batch)

Traditional Butter Base Vareniki (Pierogi ) Dough(Single Batch)

Untraditional Whole Wheat Water Base Vareniki (Pierogi ) Dough (Single Batch)

Untraditional Gluten-Free Water Base Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough(Single Batch)

Untraditional Gluten-Free Mixed Flour Water Base Vareniki(Pierogi) Dough(Single Batch)

Untraditional Chocolate Base Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough(Single Batch)

Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough Crisps

Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough Crisps Making Direction

Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough Wraps

Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough Wraps Making Directions

Assembled Vareniki (Pierogi) Shapes

Vareniki (Pierogi) Methods Making Direction

Assembling Vareniki

Traditional Method Vareniki (Pierogi) Making Direction

Dumpling Method Vareniki (Pierogi) Making Direction

POTATO FILLING VARENIKI (PIEROGI)

Potato Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Cottage Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Farmer Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Extra-Sharp Cheddar Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Fresh Dill Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Jalapeño Pepper Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Portobello Mushrooms Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Buckwheat Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Sauerkraut Vareniki (Pierogi)

Roasted Potato—Rosemary Vareniki (Pierogi)

Whipped Red Potato—Garlic Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Ground Chicken Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Fried Bacon Vareniki (Pierogi)

Potato—Dry Wild Mushrooms Vareniki (Pierogi)

Sweet Potato—Sage Vareniki (Pierogi)

VEGETABLE AND GRAIN FILLING VARENIKI (PIEROGI)

Green Split Peas Vareniki (Pierogi)

Green Split Peas—Smoked Ham Vareniki (Pierogi)

Black Beans—Cilantro Vareniki (Pierogi)

Red Lentil—Tomatoes Vareniki (Pierogi)

Brown Lentil—Dill Caper Vareniki (Pierogi)

Mushrooms Vushka (Round-Shaped Vareniki (Pierogi))

Mushrooms Vushka (Round-Shaped Vareniki (Pierogi)) Making Direction

Wild Mushrooms Vareniki (Pierogi)

Portobello—Bella Mushrooms Vareniki (Pierogi)

White Mushrooms—Sour Cream Vareniki (Pierogi)

Wild Rice—Portobello Mushrooms Vareniki (Pierogi)

Butternut Squash Vareniki (Pierogi)

Cauliflower—Honey Mustard Seeds Vareniki (Pierogi)

Fresh Avocado—Tomatoes Vareniki (Pierogi)

Brussels Sprouts—Toasted Almonds Vareniki (Pierogi)

Plantains—Caramelized Onions Vareniki (Pierogi)

Broccoli—Tomato—Fresh Basil—Toasted Walnuts Sauce Vareniki (Pierogi)

Spinach—Red Beet Tops—Sour Cream Vareniki (Pierogi)

Green Cabbage—Carrots Vareniki (Pierogi)

Green Cabbage—Tomato—Sour Cream Vatreniki (Pierogi)

Sauerkraut—Carrots Vareniki (Pierogi)

Sauerkraut—Smoked Ham Vareniki (Pierogi)

CHEESE FILLING VARENIKI (PIEROGI)

Farmer Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Buckwheat—Farmer Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Millet—Farmer Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Ricotta Cheese—Sun-Dried Tomatoes Vareniki (Pierogi)

Spinach—Ricotta Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Chick Peas—Feta Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Rutabaga—White Cheddar Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Broccoli—Yellow Cheddar Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Zucchini—Yellow Cheddar Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Spaghetti Squash—Extra-Sharp Cheddar Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Yam—White Cheddar Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Tri—Bell Peppers—Baby Swiss Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Carrot—Extra-Sharp Cheddar Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Tomato—Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Carrots—Cream Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Eggplant—Parmesan Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Polenta—Parmesan Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Yellow—White Cheddar Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Caramelized Onion—Yellow Cheddar Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Portobello Mushrooms—Swiss Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Farmer Cheese Leenivee (Lazy) Vareniki (Pierogi)

Leenivee (Lazy) Vareniki (Pierogi) Making Direction

MEAT, FISH, AND EGG FILLING VARENIKI (PIEROGI)

Ground Chicken Vareniki (Pierogi)

Ground Turkey—Bella Mushrooms Vareniki (Pierogi)

Ground Veal—Parmesan Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Ground Pork—Rosemary Vareniki (Pierogi)

Ground Beef—Jalapeño Pepper Vareniki (Pierogi)

Ground Pork—Caramelized Onion Pielmenee (Round-Shaped Vareniki)

Ground Pork—Caramelized Onion Pielmenee (Round-Shaped Vareniki)

Making Direction

Beef Meat Loaf Vareniki (Pierogi)

Roasted Chicken—Red Pepper Vareniki (Pierogi)

Honey—Mustard—Chicken Vareniki (Pierogi)

Grilled Chicken—Portobello Mushrooms Vareniki (Pierogi )

Turkey—Fresh Basil—Toasted Walnuts Sauce Vareniki (Pierogi)

Turkey—Cranberry Vareniki (Pierogi)

Roasted Beef—Swiss Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Sausages—Cubanelle Pepper Vareniki (Pierogi)

Chicken Livers—Caramelized Onions Vareniki (Pierogi)

Smoked Kielbasa—Sun-Dried Tomatoes Vareniki (Pierogi)

Smoked Ham Vareniki (Pierogi)

Smoked Ham—Asparagus Vareniki (Pierogi)

Salmon—Vegetable Vareniki (Pierogi)

Red Snapper—Peach Vareniki (Pierogi)

Baked Cod—Sage Vareniki (Pierogi)

Salmon—Spinach Vareniki (Pierogi)

Eggs—Caramelized Onions Vareniki (Pierogi)

Eggs—Sour Cream Vareniki (Pierogi)

Eggs—Smoked Ham Vareniki (Pierogi)

Eggs—Vegetable Vareniki (Pierogi)

Eggs—Bacon—Fresh Basil—Toasted Walnuts Sauce Vareniki (Pierogi)

Eggs—Green Zucchini Vareniki (Pierogi)

VARENIKI (PIEROGI) LASAGNA, BAKED ROLLS, AND QUICHE

Farmer Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi) Lasagna

Vareniki (Pierogi) Lasagna Making Direction

Butternut Squash Vareniki (Pierogi) Lasagna

Black Bean—Chicken Meat Vareniki (Pierogi ) Lasagna

Grilled Vegetable—Beef-Jalapeño Pepper Vareniki (Pierogi ) Lasagna

Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough Rolls in Tomato Sauce

Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough Rolls in Tomato Sauce Making Direction

Black Olives—Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi) Dough Rolls in Tomato Sauce

Vareniki (Pierogi) Savory Baraniochka (Oyster) Mushrooms Quiche

Vareniki (Pierogi) Savory or Sweet Quiche Making Direction

Vareniki (Pierogi) Savory Dill—Smoked Ham Quiche

Vareniki (Pierogi) Sweet Cherry—Cheese Quiche

Vareniki (Pierogi) Sweet Peanut Butter—Strawberry Quiche

Ukrainian Borsch (Meat Red Beets Soup)

Red Beets Borsch for Mushroom Vushka (Christmas Eve Borsch)

Roasted Meats Creamy Gravy

Creamy Portobello Sauce

Creamy Tomato Sauce

Red Wine Sauce

Fresh Basil—Toasted Walnuts (Pesto) Sauce

Roasted Pepper and Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Clarified Butter

Caramelized Onion

Fried Bacon

FRESH—AND DRY—FRUIT—FILLING VARENIKI (PIEROGI)

Sour Cherry Vareniki (Pierogi)

Strawberry Vareniki (Pierogi)

Huckleberry Vareniki (Pierogi)

Apple Vareniki (Pierogi)

Raspberry Vareniki (Pierogi)

Blackberry Vareniki (Pierogi)

Dry Sweetened Cranberry—Coconut Vareniki (Pierogi)

Fresh Peach Vareniki (Pierogi)

Banana—Walnut Vareniki (Pierogi)

Caramelized Banana—Cranberry Vareniki (Pierogi)

Pineapple—Crystallized Ginger Vareniki (Pierogi)

Fresh Rhubarb—Dark Raisins Vareniki (Pierogi)

Fresh Plum Vareniki (Pierogi)

Caramelized Pears Vareniki (Pierogi)

Dry Dates Vareniki (Pierogi)

Dry Prunes Vareniki (Pierogi)

Dry Apricot—Pecan Vareniki (Pierogi)

Apple Butter Vareniki (Pierogi)

Plum Butter Vareniki (Pierogi)

Apricot—Papaya Jam Vareniki (Pierogi)

Sweet Yam—Walnut Vareniki (Pierogi)

Apple—Brown Sugar-Walnut Vareniki (Pierogi)

Dry Prunes—Walnut Vareniki (Pierogi)

Dry Cranberry—Toasted Almonds Vareniki (Pierogi)

Brown Sugar—Pumpkin-Cinnamon Vareniki (Pierogi)

Pineapple—Cottage Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

Fresh Strawberry—Whipped Cream Cheese Vareniki (Pierogi)

PIE FILLING VARENIKI (PIEROGI)

Caramelized Apples—Cranberry Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Apple—Sour Cream Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Honey—Apple—Raisins Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Lemon—Meringue Pie Filling Pierogi

Fresh Lime Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Toasted Pecan Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Peach—Raisins Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Strawberry—Coconut Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Peach—Almond Cream Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Pumpkin Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Poppy Seeds—Raisins—Toasted Walnuts Pie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

CAKE AND COOKIE FILLING VARENIKI (PIEROGI)

Fresh Cranberry Cheesecake Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Sweet Cherry Cheesecake Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Pecan Chocolate Cheesecake Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Chocolate Truffle Cake Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Mascarpone Cheesecake Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Chocolate Chips—Marshmallows Cookie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Chocolate—Toasted Hazelnut Cookie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

White Chocolate—Cranberry Cookie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Dates—Pecan Cookie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Toasted Coconut—Candied Cherry Cookie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Chocolate Raisins—Walnuts Cookie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Peanut Butter—Strawberry Jam Cookie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Peanut Butter—Chocolate Chips Cookie Filling Vareniki (Pierogi)

Homemade Whipped Cream

Rich Chocolate Sauce

Clove Caramel Sauce

Huckleberry Brown Sugar Sauce

Black Currant Wine Sauce

Strawberry Sauce

Strawberry Cream Sauce

End Notes

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your

God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My

righteous right hand.’

—Isaiah 41:10,

NKJV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

—Proverbs 3:5-6

NKJV

I would like to dedicate all my cookbooks to my Lord Jesus Christ, who strengthens me and supplies all of my needs every single day of my life and who inspired me, gave me the opportunity, and guided me through the process of writing and putting all my ideas together. I would like these books to be my life testimony about God’s faithfulness and His promises to His servants that when you trust in the Lord with all your heart and be obedient to Him, He will make your dreams come true in the natural world of the impossible because everything is possible with God!

About the Book

The Vareniki (Pierogi) cookbook is another book that God told me to write and gave me this idea for it while I was driving late at night from work in late fall of 2006. This cookbook contains over one hundred forty delicious varieties of savory—and sweet-filling vareniki (pierogi) and several varieties of vareniki (pierogi) dough, as well as other dishes that could be made from precooked vareniki, including lasagna and quiche. Also, it includes dishes made from the fresh vareniki dough, including fried crisps and wraps. It originally started with the seventy recipes that I recorded after the Lord spoke to me that late night. As my first two cookbooks, Ukrainian Cuisine with an American Touch and Ingredients, Gluten and Gluten-Free, this book is too filled with delicious food recipes and scriptures from the Word of God that will nourish your body and soul. Some of the scriptures were given to me directly by God, either while fasting and praying, through prophetic dreams, another fellow Christian, or while spending some time in the Word during the writing and publishing of the books. Also, it is filled with my personal stories of faith and stories about people I know and met in my life, as well as people I never met but are dear to me through the stories that I heard from either my parents, grandma, or aunts.

As my other two cookbooks, this book is very easy to read and simple in following recipes. Vareniki-making directions are supported by pictures and detailed explanation of each preparing and assembling step. Each recipe is supported by serving and cooking suggestions. The cooking suggestion is focused either on the main ingredient of the recipe and its preparation or some important tip in preparing, assembling, or cooking vareniki. It also contains the food and nonfood Ukrainian terminology that is used in the book when describing its traditional relevancy or meaning behind it.

There are several types of gluten and gluten-free vareniki (pierogi) dough, followed by eight categories of sweet—and savory filling vareniki (pierogi) that include the most traditional and most popular filling used among Ukrainians, as well as untraditional savory and dessert filling that were created by me, including pie, cake, and cookie fillings. Throughout each vareniki category, I quoted the verses from Psalm 23, NKJV (New King James Version). Each vareniki category is supported with the story that I learned or experienced while growing up in Ukraine, together with personal, cultural, or traditional meaning behind it. The story will relate to the particular life experience either in my life or the life of my parents, friends, or relatives, as well as to the particular food ingredient that is used in making a vareniki dish.

Each story will have the moral behind it, and it is supported by the related scriptures from the Bible, the Living Word of God. These stories are from real-life experiences, and their purpose is in helping and encouraging others during their trying times of faith and obedience to walk with God, as well as discovering and pursuing their purpose on the earth. The book is presented in such a way that might help someone to discover their true identity as a child of the Most High God. I truly believe that this book will be a great tool in learning ways of preparing the food that will truly satisfy our taste buds for both physical and spiritual hunger.

Writing a cookbook was my dream and my desire since I came to the United States of America. However, cultural shock and lack of experience in preparing the food and using the American measuring system was the big stumbling block in accomplishing it. Followed by full-time studying and working and taking care of my family. But my Lord Jesus Christ is faithful, just, and true because He knew the desires of my heart before I knew them, and little by little, He was preparing me for such timing, through my past life, learning, and working experiences. The Word of God said in Psalm 37:4, Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. This include my education in the hospitality field, both in restaurant service and hotel operations, working experience in food handling while working as the quality control and owning my restaurant and catering business, as well as becoming His servant and redirecting my life in doing His will. He even provided me with perfect time and opportunity for it, as well as placed godly people in my life, my parents, my daughter, my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ from either my home or neighboring church, my former customers, or even complete strangers. Also, He helped me with everything I need for both writing it and publishing it.

Also, my mom is a big inspiration for this particular cookbook. She is the best vareniki (pierogi) maker that you can find. Amazingly, she prepares the best-tasting vareniki (pierogi) that anyone could ever eat; she also has the best and fastest time in preparing, assembling, and cooking them. Looking at the vareniki-making direction, you could actually see my mom cheerfully assembling vareniki with passion and lots of fun.

Owning my restaurant made me realize that this traditional Ukrainian dish is equally popular in both countries, either in the United States of America or in Ukraine. That is why I picked the title that will be most recognizable among Americans and Ukrainians, as well as among the Americans of Eastern European descent. Many people like to eat vareniki (pierogi) but do not make them because of the time and patience that is involved in preparing this dish. However, a vareniki dish is very easy to make, and it can be fun for any individual or for the whole family. The truth is that it takes some time and practice, like with any other dish, to become an expert in making it. But with practice and the best ingredients, the final result and family time spent together will be worth every bit of it.

As you explore this book, you will see that in it I try to guide you step by step in the vareniki (pierogi)-making procedure and included a detailed explanation of it, with pictures and written making direction beside it. Also, this book contains helpful tips in cooking and serving suggestions in making the best vareniki (pierogi) that you could eat. In fact, I truly believe that this cookbook will help anyone who would like to try it to become the vareniki (pierogi) expert and present the final dish with big wow results.

In the acknowledgment sections of all my books, I included the scripture from the book of Proverbs 3:5-6, which the Lord gave me at the end of the January of 2009 after I fasted and while praying and asking Him to help me, and He said this: ⁵ "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." This was my first time ever hearing from God by the scripture. But the moment He spoke to me, my heart was filled with peace that surpasses all understanding, and no one could move it. Immediately my faith was strengthened, and I could truly see His mighty hand on everything that I did and was doing in my life, especially in the writing and the publishing of my cookbooks and all the events that led me to it. I put my trust in Him and in Him only.

I pray to God that this cookbook will bless everyone who reads it and has the passion for delicious physical and spiritual food. I also pray that God will give you peace that surpasses all understanding, and no one can move it. The only way we could do that through the knowledge of the truth and a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who came to this world to set us free from all of the sins and the bondages that hinder us from prosperity and make our lives difficult.

Vareniki (Pierogi) Origin

Vareniki (pierogi) is the most traditional and popular dish in Ukraine as well as in the United States of America. They are made regularly in almost every Ukrainian household. Also, you can buy them at special and well-known Ukrainian restaurant called varenichna, the place where they cook and serve vareniki (pierogi). To make sure that everyone understands and recognizes the name for this particular dish, I called it vareniki with pierogi next to it. Every single Ukrainian will recognize the vareniki word, and every single American and anyone coming from Eastern Europe will recognize the word pierogi.

I am not a scholar or food critic and did not really make any research concerning vareniki’s origin. All the information presented in this book concerning vareniki (pierogi) I learned while growing up in Ukraine, as well as living here in America and owning my business. Most of the stories and recipes about vareniki I learned from my dad, grandmother, mother, friends, relatives, and some even from complete strangers.

As we get started, I just want to express my opinion about this particular dish. I truly believed that this dish was invented by someone who had to feed a large family and did not have much food available. The fact is with a little bit of food and some imagination, you can feed an army and have plenty of leftovers when making the vareniki (pierogi) dish. For example, you can eat a large apple for lunch and not be satisfied. But if you take that same large apple and finely chop or grade it, you will end up with about one cup of the filling that can be made into about two to three dozens of vareniki and comfortably feed at least six people with them. And you can even have some vareniki left over.

There is one story that comes to my mind that could be contrasted with the vareniki (pierogi) dish and many of you probably heard it before—the story about our Lord Jesus feeding multitudes with several loaves of bread and a few fish. On one occasion, He fed five thousand men, Matthew 14:13-21, and on a second occasion, four thousand of men, Matthew 15:32-39, both times not counting women and children. Everyone was satisfied, and many baskets of leftovers were collected and given away. In Matthew 14:19-21, says: "¹⁹Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. ²⁰So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. ²¹Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children." Amazing, isn’t it? Many people were satisfied with a little bit of food and help from Jesus."

In the United States of America, vareniki is most known by the word pierogi. Vareniki is plural or many, and varenik is single or one. The same goes for the pierogi word; pierogi is plural or many, and pierog is single or one. Since it is already plural, s is not used at the end of the word like it would be in many plural English word spellings.

Vareniki (pierogi) are widely made all over Eastern Europe, especially in Ukraine, Poland, and Russia. Vareniki is the most common name used for this dish, so I used it as the title for this book. In the Western part of the Ukraine, where I grew up, we called it pirogi or, as my dad would call it, pireezki, for many, and pireeg or pireezok, single or one. This dish has a multipurpose role and can be served either as the main course, side dish, snack or appetizer, or as you will discover for yourself later, as dessert. Vareniki (pierogi) can be savory or sweet and made from the varieties of meat, vegetables, fruits, or other sweet fillings.

Traditional Ukrainian vareniki (pierogi) were made from farmer cheese, mashed potato, or the mixture of both potato and farmer cheese, followed by mushrooms, fried cabbage, and sauerkraut. Sweet-filling vareniki (pierogi) are made from varieties of fruits and berries, and the most traditional and popular fillings are made from fresh sour cherries, raspberries, plums, blueberries (huckleberries), and strawberries. These vareniki (pierogi) fillings could only be explained by the Ukrainian agriculture and the natural resources that are widely available to its people. In America, there are no limits to the vareniki filling, because of the avalibility and abundance of the food supply.

Traditional original filling was the farmer cheese and was introduced to us by Poltava, the Eastern part of Ukraine, the same place that introduced to us the halushki dish. I found that out from the song about it that was very popular and sung by many. I can still remember the tune and sing it once in a while, just a small portion of it, and it goes something like this: Oy, chula (heared) ya (I) si chula (heard), oy chula (heard) ya (I) chi (or) nee (not), lubiv (loved) kosak (young man) divchinoo (young lady) es (with) sirom (cheese) pirogi (pierogi).

When vareniki (pierogi) came to the rest of Ukraine, the potato and potato-farmer cheese mixture became the most popular and traditional filling among Ukrainians. There are a few other names used for meat—and mushroom-filling vareniki, such as pielmenee for pork-meat-filling vareniki (pierogi) and vushka for mushroom-filling vareniki, and leenivee (lazy) for untraditional vareniki. All of the mentioned-above types of vareniki are cooked dumplings that are similar in taste, texture, and assembling process. Except that pielmenee and vushka are being made from slightly smaller dough circles and folded into the small ear-shaped hats that look like tortellini and not the half-moon shape like other traditional vareniki would.

Usually all of the traditional vareniki, including pielmenee and vushka, can be boiled, steamed, fried, or deep-fried. Leenivee (lazy) vareniki, on the other hand, are different in their making process and are rectangular-shaped dumplings that are made from the farmer cheese—flour mixture, and unlike the traditional vareniki, they do not require assembly. In addition to the traditional and most popular vareniki feelings, there are many others that were invented during the creative thinking of mothers and family chefs who tried to feed their family on the daily bases. The filling that I came up with could be the good example of it, except that I create them not from the lack but from the abundance of the different product varieties that are readily available at the supermarkets and farmer markets of the United States of America.

However, in the old days, women were the household chefs and made their vareniki (pierogi) according to the food available at their pantry, and many times, newly invented vareniki fillings were invented from the lack of that particular missing ingredient in their food supply. Also, some of the vareniki fillings were invented just from the abundant ingredient that was highly available around their households. For example, my mother made her vareniki (pierogi) from potato, farmer cheese, dry or fresh wild mushrooms, fresh cabbage, and sauerkraut. Also, she made different varieties of fresh fruits and berries that came from either our own garden or the forest that were next by. My grandmother and her daughter’s family, on the other hand, made vareniki (pierogi) from potato, farmer cheese, and variety of grains, such as millet and buckwheat, since they were farmers and grew potato and all kinds of grain.

Even though, vareniki (pierogi) is the most popular dish in Ukrainian cuisine, not every woman knows how to make them. Or just does not have patience or time to do them. That is why many cooks look for the alternatives and other easier ways to make vareniki. So leenivee (lazy) vareniki (pierogi) were born and were the perfect substitute for them. They are similar to the traditional Italian nokkies. I am not exactly sure who invented them, but I know that my cousin from Ukraine deserves the credit for them. She was the one who introduced this kind of vareniki (pierogi) to me and my family.

When you make the traditional vareniki (pierogi), you must separately prepare the dough and the filling for them and then by the shown traditional or dumpling methods of assembly, assemble them either into the half-moon shape or into the small ear or hat shape (tortellini). Leenivee (lazy) vareniki (pierogi), on the other hand, are easier to make. They do not require any assembly. It is a two-step process, namely preparing the dough and then the rolling and the cutting of it to the right shape, which I mentioned earlier is a rectangular shape.

The basic filling for leenivee (lazy) vareniki (pierogi) is made from flour, farmer cheese, eggs, and seasoning. However, the making principle and taste of leenivee (lazy) vareniki is almost the same as for the traditional vareniki. Amazingly, after the leenivee (lazy) vareniki (pierogi) are cooked, they would have the farmer cheese filling condensed in their center and the plain flour dough surrounding them, just like you would have filling enclosed inside of the traditional-filling vareniki (pierogi).

Like I mentioned before, I do not really know where vareniki (pierogi) originated, and it could be from other countries, possibly from China and Italy since their meat and crab-meat dumplings and savory-filling ravioli and tortellini, respectively, are similar to the traditional vareniki in texture, taste, and appearance. However, it does not really matter, where they originated and came from, as long as they taste good and can feed many. Personally, I still consider them to be a part of the Ukrainian cuisine, and one of the most traditional and popular food among Ukrainians.

My family and I are blessed that my mother loves to make vareniki (pierogi) and made them regularly in Ukraine, as well as making them here. Since coming to America, fruit and fresh mushroom vareniki (pierogi) became a daily or weekly dish for my family. The American supermarkets offer all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables all year round, and you just have to make one trip to get it.

We used to joke in Ukraine about strawberries. For example, when you ask Ukrainians, When can you get and eat strawberry? The answer will be in season, meaning between the mid of June and the end of July. On the other hand, when you ask the same question to Americans, their answer will be when the supermarket opens or, these days always, since most of the supermarkets are open seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day and carry them all the time.

One day, when the Lord spoke to me, I got the revelation about vareniki (pierogi). Vareniki could be made from all kinds of savory and sweet fillings as long as the filling is semi-thick. This was an eye-opener for me, and this book was the result of it. Immediately I start