Friday, August 31, 2012

Buffalo Chicken Pierogies

I promised recipes on this blog and so I shall deliver! 

Disclaimer for family: I doubled checked the recipe online to make sure there were others out there like it.  I wanted to make sure I was not giving away a family secret dough recipe.  Plus this dough recipe was given out at my wedding shower so double coverage. 

I took the traditional pierogie and gave a little spice. Note it is better to make the filling prior to the dough. It is a long processes but totally worth it!!!


Buffalo Chicken Filling:


2 chicken breasts
1 bottle of Franks Red Hot
1 stick of butter
1 shredded carrot
1 shredded celery stick


Cook the chicken breasts anyway you normal would but make sure you can pull the chicken. Pull the chicken a little then add to a sauce pan. Add the bottle of Franks, butter, carrot and celery. I usually shred them with a peeler directly into the pan. Let it simmer until the chicken is nice and shredded...about an hour and half. Have crumbled blue cheese off to the side for when you stuff the pierogies.




Potatoes:
5 pounds of potatoes
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 stick of butter (optional)
Sprinkle of crumbled blue cheese




Peel and cook potatoes in water until soft
Drain potatoes, while still hot mix cheese, salt and butter
Use a mixer to combine ingredients
Let potatoes cool before using,, they can be warm but NOT hot.
**It is best to make the potatoes ahead of time before you mix dough




Dough:

8 cups flour
1 stick margarine
4 eggs
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 tsp salt


Put flour into large bowl, mix in salt
Melt margarine in a microwavable bowl, let cool
Mix eggs in separate bowl with water, stir together with a fork
When margarine is cool, mix with eggs and water, stir together with a fork. 
Pour mixture into flour and salt, start to mix with a spoon, once it's most of the way mixed take your hands and totally mix, take out of bowl and knead dough until it's totally combined, put dough into Ziploc bag and let sit for about an hour in the fridge. 




To make a pierogie:
If you have a pasta maker, cut off a piece of dough, roll thru noodle maker until dough is thin, but not too thin, it is best to roll dough on a thicker setting then take the piece of dough and roll it back thru on a lower setting. If you don't have a noodle maker, you can use a rolling pin. Make sure you have a non-stick surface to work on.

Cut dough into rectangles or squares, the pieces don't have to be perfectly shaped.

Spoon some potatoes onto dough, add a little of the buffalo chicken filling, lastly top with a little bit of crumbled blue cheese-fold over and crimp the edges real well, you can't have any open area. After you have about a dozen made, put pierogie in slow boiling water and cook until they float to the top.
Saute butter to put pierogie's in when finished cooking

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

My Golden Year

This year was my golden birthday, 28 on the 28th. I could not have asked for a better birthday. I think this one was my favorites so far. 

We celebrated with amazing friends and family. I was asked, how does it feel to get older? My response, "honestly I love my life and it gets better with age." I wanted to share this blessing below with others.  


These are words to live by. I see people that don't have this and I feel sorry for them. Life is too short to be angry, resentful or bitter. Move on and live your life! If it is one thing I have learned thus far it is that friends are family and family are friends, no regrets but learn from your mistakes and no one can dictate your life but you...among other things, which I will share in this blog. 

In the next few months I will be sharing recipes and DIY projects. 

I can not wait to see what the next year brings! Enjoy pics from the past weekend festivities.



Flowers from the hubby

The great family and friends I brag about!

This is my meatball (left), you will see
 her a lot in these blogs!

Market Garden Brewery by
Westside Market





Monday, August 20, 2012

Traveling Fennells

Slacking on my blog again. I don't think I have ever had this much fun in one summer. I feel like the older I get the better life is.

July was go go go for us and only picked up more towards the end. We took an 8 day vaca with 4 of our close friends to Key West. What an experience!!!  We swam with wild dolphins, caught lobsters on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, partied hard on Duval Street and toodled out on the ocean.

10 Tips when traveling to Key West:

1. Know a family member or friend down there. It is not the same experience without one. We were able to meet the locals and see Key West in a way most don't. We meet a wonderful Cajun couple that were born and raised in Key West. They taught us how to catch lobster, a few Cajun words and made an incredible meal for all of us.

2. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Between the sun, salt water and partying remember to drink lots of water. We went through a case a day. 

3. SPF 50 will be your best friend. If you think you are tan and don't need it. You are WRONG! Don't worry you will still get a tan. Bring a good moisturizer. The salt water dries out your skin. 

4. No high heels...it is pointless. Just flip flops, sun dresses, shorts and tanks. For guys, t-shirts and shorts. 

5. You will only need a carry on when traveling there. Save yourself on the baggage fees.

6. Best restaurants and bars: Jack Flats, Margaritaville, Cowboy Bill's, Green Parrot Bar and Willie T's. There are a ton more places to go. I suggest doing the bar crawl. Start at one end and work your way down. Go to Hogsbreath and Sloppy Joe's just say you went. 

7. Try something new!! 

8. $5 stores are great for souvenirs 

9. Southernmost Point is worth it for the pics. 

10. Fly direct into Key West if possible. We did this and it was a great! Try to buy your flights in March. This is when you will get the best pricing. 

Boating out to the sand bar-first day out!


caught a lobster-YOLO
This was the first one. I had to throw him back.
He was a little guy


We caught 47 lobsters. That was only day 1 of mini season!
Amazing dinner cooked by Jerry and D





Traveling Feldmans and Fennells
Partying on Duvall with Mags!

Swimming with the wild dolphins.
What an experience!
Finished the trip up with a little relaxation :)