Hannah Mosiniak

Items

• Dirt Pudding
  Dirt Pudding 1 pkg. Oreo cookies 2 cups milk 1 pkg. (large) instant chocolate pudding mix 1 sm. container of thawed Cool Whip topping 1 pkg. gummy worms (optional) Put Oreos into a thick plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush them. Set crushed cookies aside. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the pudding mix with the milk and let it stand for 5 minutes. Add Cool Whip to pudding along with half of the crushed cookies. Mix thoroughly. Sprinkle the rest of the crushed cookies on top. Serve chilled. Makes about 8 servings. Note: If adding gummy worms, either mix in before sprinkling topping, or spread over top. For individual servings, spoon into bowls/cups (then add gummy worms, if desired) before sprinkling last half of sruched cookies on top.
• Pierogi
  Pierogi 2 T. butter 1/3 c. chopped onion 1 1/2 c. sauerkraut, drained and minced salt and pepper to taste 3 eggs 1 (8-oz.) container of sour cream 3 c. all-purpose flour 1 T. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1 T. baking powder 1. To prepare the sauerkraut filling, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the drained sauerkraut and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then remove to a plate to cool. 2. To make the dough, beat together the eggs and sour cream until smooth. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder, stir into the sour cream mixture until dough comes together. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until firm and smooth. Divide the dough in half, then roll out one half to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 3 inch rounds using a biscuit cutter. 4. Place a small spoonful of the sauerkraut filing into the center of each round. Moisten the edges with water, fold over, and press together with a fork to seal. Repeat procedure with the remaining dough and the sauerkraut filling. 5. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pierogi and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until pierogi float to the top. REmove with a slotted spoon. Note: To save time, you can make the filing the night before and remove it from fridge an hour before making the dough. To prepare for meal, fry pierogis lightly in butter and onions if desired, top with additional sour cream.
• Mama Said Knock You Out Panino
  Mama Said Knock You Out Panino (6-oz.) fresh portobello mushrooms, sliced 1 large red onion, sliced 1 sweet red pepper, sliced 1 (8-oz.) hummus 2 sticks carrots, shredded 2 loaves Focaccia bread, 9-in round 2 T. olive oil 1 head red leaf lettuce Wash and slice mushrooms, onion, and red pepper. Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add portobello mushrooms, onions and red pepper slices. Reduce heat and saute, turning occasionally until tender (6-8 minutes). Cut the 2 loaves of focaccia bread in half lengthwise, then slice each half in two along the side to form four half-moon sandwiches. Warm the bread in preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and top bottom slice of bread with mushrooms, onions, red pepper, shredded carrots, and 2-3 leaves of lettuce. Spread hummus on top slice of bread and place on bottom slice. Use remaining lettuce for an accompanying side salad. Note: Why the wacky name? This powerhouse of a sandwich packs quite a punch. It will genuinely leave you longing for the sofa. Feel free to experiment by adding different herbs, spices and ingredients. SOme may want to up the heat with hot peppers or tweak the flavor with a splattering of rosemary and thyme. Everyone will want to go a few rounds with this culinary heavy-weight.
• Vegetarian Gumbo
  Vegetarian Gumbo (Sindhi Curry) 4 T. gram flour (besan) 3 T. oil 1 tsp. cumin seeds 1 tsp. methi seeds 1 pinch asefotida (hing) 3 tsp. salt 1 tsp. turmeric 1 tsp. red chili powder 1 T. tamarind paste 1 T. ginger 3 green chilies, chopped Your choice of vegetables 10 curry leaves 1 T. fenugreek seeds Heat oil in a big, heavy bottom pot. ONce the oil is hot add the fenugreek and cumin seeds and asefotida. Once they start to splutted gradually add the gram flour and reduce flame. Stir the mixture till the gram flour is golden brown and you will also smell the aroma of the flour cooking. Add about 10 cups of water, as first it will look very watery but once it boils the gumbo will get texture and thickness. Increase the flame till it starts boiling. Add ginger, salt, turmeric, red chili powder and curry leaves. Reduce flame once it boils to medium and let it cook for 15-20 minutes. Add tamarind paste and let it cook. Add about 3 cups of vegetables and green chilies. Let it all cook till vegetables are cooked. Note: We generally eat this with plain rice. You can add any vegetables: potatoes, cauliflower, peas, carrots, or okra (try these before adding). Some of the traditional vegetables that are available in the freezer or canned in an India store are Lotus root, drumsticks and Indian beans (guavar)
• Curried Couscous Salad
  Curried Couscous Salad (10-oz.) box plus 1/3 cup dry couscous prepared with 2 1/2 cups liquid 1 bunch scallions, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup golden raisins 1/2 cup canned chickpeas, drained 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 tsp. curry powder 1/2 tsp. allspice 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. papper 3/4 cup olive oil Prepare coucous, cool and fluff with fork. Combine scallions, bell pepper, raisins, and chickpeas in a large bowl. Stir in couscous. Whisk together lemon juice, curry powder, allspice, salt, and pepper. Gradually add olive oil, whisking until well blended. Stir dressing into couscous mixture. Cover and chill.
• Challah
  Challah (makes four 1 pound loaves) 1 1/2 c. warm water 3 pkgs. active dry yeast 1 egg lightly beaten 4 egg yolks ( reserve the whites) 1/4/ c. plus 2 T. vegetable oil 1/3 c. plus 1 T. sugar 6 to 6 1/2 c. flour 1 T. salt poppy seeds, for topping researched egg whites beaten with 1 tsp. water, for egg wash In a mixing bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and stir gently to dissolve. Add sugar and the egg, egg yollks, oil, 5 C. flour, and salt. Mix by hand or start mixer with dough hook at slow speed to keep the flour from flying around. Mix until the dough comes away from the side of the bow or if you are working by hand, until the dough comes together and can be removed from the bowl for kneading. Continue mixing for 15 minutes (or knead 15 minutes if working by hand). If the mixer begins to strain, stop for a few minutes to let the dough rest and loosen and the motor to cool. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning to coat, and cover with clean cloth. Let rise until the dough has tripled in volume (1-2 hours in a Michigan summer, as many as 4 hours in a cold winter kitchen). After dough has risen, punch it down, cut into four equal chuncks and let them rest for 10 minutes. This will make the dough easier to work. Divide each dough chunk into 3, 4, or 6 pieces (depending on how complex a braid you want to make). Roll each piece between your hands and the table to make into a 12-14 inch rope. Braid the ropes into four loaves and place loaves on a baking tray. Let rise until doubled in size (1-2 hours). Preheat the over to 350 degrees. Brush the loaves with egg wash and sprinkle poppy seeds on top. Bake 25-35 minutes, until the breads are a dark, shiny brown and the bottom sounds hollow when you tap it. Note: I make this on Sundays and freeze it to use on Fridays. It is a very stiff dough, easiest to make in a heavy duty mixer, but it can be made by hand if you are patient.