I’m pretending this comforter is a fresh-out-of-the-oven kolache! Num, num.
Well, mama say I have to put in the recipe for sweet roll dough, from which the kolaches are made (among other things like dinner rolls, sweet rolls, pigs-in-a-blanket–whatever THOSE are. How do they get a pig into a blanket anyway. None of the pigs I’ve none would let themselves be wrapped up easily, especially those greased up ones you find at fairs). But mama says it’s a versatile dough and tastes good just made into plain old round rolls and that it’s hard to stop eating them.
Here we go:
Sweet Roll Dough for Kolaches (and other things)
1/4 cup warm water
2 packages yeast
1 1/2 cups warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter (save a spoonful for the bowl in which the dough will rise)
1 egg plus 2 yolks
1 teaspoon salt
3 generous cups of all-purpose flour and maybe a bit more, depends on your flour
Dissolve the yeast in the water and then mix it with the warm milk, sugar, butter, eggs and salt. Mix until very smooth. Add the flour and mix well until you have a lovely buttery dough that does not stick easily to your fingers. If it sticks after you mix well, add a bit more flour until you can handle the dough easily and knead it for about 5 minutes until it is smooth and satiny. Brush it with the rest of the butter and let it rise until double, about an hour (often less, depending on how warm it is where it is rising). You may punch it down and let it rise again, but mama doesn’t.
Form the dough into little balls about the size of a golf ball and put them in muffin tins, or simply put them on a baking sheet. Brush them with melted butter, cover them with a light cloth and let rise again. When you are ready to bake, heat the oven to 350 F, press you thumb into each ball to make an indentation, and fill with a spoon of any filling you like. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until golden. And then marvel at what you have done.
Fillings: Pitted prunes mashed up with a bit of lemon peel; cooked apricots, pureed, poppy seeds mixed with butter and sugar into a thick paste, cottage cheese mixed with a little sugar and lemon peel and pureed or farmer’s cheese, which is what was available in mama’s grandmother’s day.
The Czechs immigrated (note that word, or mama wouldn’t BE here) to Texas in the 1800s, and they settled where there was very good farmland to continue their new life (they were great farmers). And they maintained their customs, which included kolaches, especially when they all gathered together for a dinner or a church or social event. Kolaches were served at afternoon coffee gatherings or for breakfast or given to children as a treat. Mama’s grandmother also made light and lovely strudel, stretching the dough across her large white enamel kitchen table until it was paper thin (the dough, not the table) and then filled it with apples sliced and baked with cinnamon.
Mama gives me some of the cheese filling, which is really good, but a bit rich for my kitty blood. Still, I like sharing in her heritage, even if I am a Frenchy.
Ooooh, the smell of kolalches baking. Heaven!
Cook’s Country Kolaches
You have good taste, Loulou. And that looks like a fantastic recipe!
Well, mama made some and she loves poppy seeds but they are not everyone’s gig. But good right out of the oven!
Am going to try a vegan version of Kolache. If successful (I am a poor cook) I will send you a picture.
Meanwhile, thanks to Loulou for her witty comments.
Ooooooh – those look sooooo good!!! Did mama make fish-flavor for you? Tuna kolache with catnip? Saving the recipe and I’m telling maman to put kibbles in the center of mine! The weather here has turned COLD, so what better activité for maman than to cook!?
Today, since it’s the first day of the month, she stuffs us with lentils for prosperity. Supposed to make us rich. Hasn’t worked so far – but if she doesn’t buy a lottery ticket along with the lentils – hey, what does she expect!? Humanoids can be so dense at times. It’s up to us to keep them on their toes……………..
I thought you ate lentil on the first day of JANUARY, not every month! Fantastic.
Nice to learn more about your Mama’s heritage. Those rolls look amazing.
The mom wants to come over and try those kolaches. We would like some of the cheese filling please.
OMC LouLou, those look so yummy we can almost taste ’em. Glad you got some cheesy fillin’. You’re lookin’ adorable as always. Enjoy. Big hugs fur all
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
Mmmm, we can almost smell them. They must taste wonderful.
Mom copied that recipe. Yum, yum. She just wants to know how to store these, and how long will they be good, not that she expects they would last very long. once she and Dad started eating them Also, what is the yield of this recipe? Thanks Loulou and Mom. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Well, it depends on how bit you make the balls of dough. Mama said the dough would make about 24 kolaches and don’t skimp on the fillings. Poppy seeds in a little milk and sugar and butter can be prepared in the microwave. They must be like a paste, but when baked, are addicting for some who love their flavour. Mama.
I think Mama needs a second reviewer – you never know, tastes change! And Grandma Ros is one of the best taste tester around – and she might even be persuaded to do it for no cost! Wow, is that not ever great? Perhaps you could drop a hint to Mama?
Well, we could airmail some but not sure the Maui copy would let them pass customs….