Pierogi Fillings - mushrooms, cabbage and mushrooms, potato and cheese

For Christmas I usually make 3 different fillings, mushrooms and cabbage and mushrooms are traditional filling at Christmas time. My son only likes the potato and cheese filling so I make this most common in Poland pierogi filling as well.

Mushroom filling
Ingredients:
1 cup of dried wild mushrooms, soak (water from soaking can be added to the cabbage stew, cabbage and mushroom filling, or barszcz)
2 cups of mixed mushrooms. Usually I opt for mushrooms like oysters, shittake, chanterelles, or any mushroom available locally
1 large onion
sea salt, pepper to taste

Steps:
Sauté finely chopped onion for a few minutes
Add finely chopped mushrooms (both soaked dried and fresh) to the pot
season with salt and pepper
Usually there is no need to add any water as salt will pull water from mushrooms so you will have enough juice for cooking.
Cook on a very low heat for several hours (gas mark 1.6-2.2 for 4-6 hours), stirring occasionally (once every 30 min or so).


Cabbage and mushrooms filling
Ingredients:
0.5 cup of sauerkraut (drained)
0.75 cup of fresh cabbage
1 large onion
1 cup of mushrooms (dry and fresh)
0.25 tsp caraway seeds
salt and pepper to taste
2 prunes (might be needed if your sauerkraut is very sour)

Steps:
Sauté finely chopped onion for a few minutes
Add finely chopped sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, and mushrooms
Add the spices - caraway seeds, salt, and pepper
Cook on a very low heat for several hours (gas mark 1.6-2.2 for 4-6 hours), stirring occasionally (once every 30 minutes or so).


Potato and cheese filling
Ingredients:
500 g of cooked potatoes (soft like for mashed potatoes)
500 g of quark or pressed cottage cheese (you can make your own with milk and yoghurt)
1 onion
1 tbsp ground cumin
salt, pepper to taste

Steps:
Sauté finely chopped onion for a few minute
Mash potatoes with cheese
Mix all ingredients together

Cabbage Stew (Kapusta Wigilijna)

I have been struggling to make a perfect cabbage stew for years. I tried many recipes and modification and could never get it just right...until this year!

Ingredients:
0.5 kg sauerkraut; pour hot water over it to remove excess sourness
0.5 kg fresh cabbage
1.5 cups of dried mushrooms, soaked, retain water
1 large onion, cut into thin strips
100 g butter
4 whole allspice
5 white pepper corns
1 tbs caraway seeds
5-6 prunes

1. Chop fresh cabbage and place it together with sauerkraut in a pot with butter. Cook on a low heat (gas mark 2.4; after 1 hour lower it to 2.2)
2. Roughly chop soaked mushrooms; add them to the cabbage mix. Also add most of the soaking water.
3. Saute onion for a few minutes until softened; add to the cabbage mix. Continue cooking; mix occasionally.
4. Finely chop prunes, add to the cabbage mix together with spices. Continue cooking, and stirring occasionally.
5. Cook for about 6-8 hours over 2 days. You may need to add some water.
6. Enjoy!

Red Cabbage Delight

#easyfoodcreations #healthyeating #rawvegan

Red cabbage often is listed as one of the most potent vegetables for cancers and aging. While it was one of the vegetables I absolutely hated as a kid, I fell in love with red cabbage but only in a raw or lightly steemed forms.

Here is one simple creation that I made from few ingredients I always have in the house.

Ingredients:

0.5 head of medium red cabbage

1 Apple 

1 medium carrot

4 tbsp dried cranberries

4 tbsp pumpkin seeds

Dressing:

3 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp olive oil

1. Finely chop cabbage, grate Apple and carrot.

2. Add cranberries and pumpkin seeds. Mix everything together. 

3. Mix lemon juice with olive oil and add to the other ingredients; mix everything together.

4. Enjoy!

Salad: Get your Super Power

I find that some food gives me a lot of energy right after eating it and other drain anything that is left. This salad is one of the dishes that brings me to life, that is why it's perfect for lunch!

I composed it from a number of super foods for maximum nutrition.

Ingredients:

2c of young cabbage

2 kale leaves, stems removed 

1 large Apple (I like Granny Smith)

1 large carrot

2-3 tbsp dried cranberries

6 tbsp sunflower seeds

6 tbsp pumpkin seeds

Dressing:

4 tbsp olive oil

Juice from half lemon (about 3-4 tbsp)

Juice from 2 inch grated ginger (about 1-2 tbsp)

2 tbsp poppy seeds

Salt and pepper

1. Grate cabbage like you would for coleslaw.

2. Chop kale into small thin strips.

3. Grate Apple and carrot ( large eye grater).

4. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

5. Mix the dressing and pour into the salad. Mix everything well.

6. Enjoy!

The salad is best served the same day, but can stay in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.