Verenika

For old-fashioned comfort food roll out a dough of flour, milk, baking powder, salt, eggs, water and oil. Fill rounds of dough with a blend of cottage cheese, eggs and black pepper, then boil and serve with a sauce of flour, cream and sauteed ham.

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 127 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ cup water
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ cups warm milk
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
• ⅓ cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 2 ½ cups dry cottage cheese
• 4 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup cubed ham
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

In a blender, combine cottage cheese, 2 eggs and ground black pepper to taste. Cover and blend until smooth, or beat with an electric mixer until smooth; Set aside.

Step 2

In a large bowl, stir together flour, milk powder, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a small bowl, beat together 2 eggs, water and oil; combine with flour mixture.

Step 3

On a floured surface, knead dough about 10 times or until smooth. Divide dough in half and roll out each portion to a 1/8 inch thickness. Using a 4 inch round cutter, cut out rounds of dough.

Step 4

Place 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of each circle. Moisten the edge and fold over to form a half moon shape; pinch to seal.

Step 5

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add half of the dumplings and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender; remove with a slotted spoon and drain. Repeat with remaining dumplings.

Step 6

While the dumplings are cooking, prepare the gravy. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in ham, and cook until ham is light brown. Add 3 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper. Stir. Pour in milk all at once, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Serve over the dumplings.