Mennonite Girls Can Cook is a collection of recipes which were posted daily for a period of ten years from 2008 to 2018. We have over 3,000 delicious recipes that we invite you to try. The recipes can be accessed in our recipe file by category or you can use the search engine.

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Portzelky (New Years Cookies)

I've posted this recipe before on my blog .. .but since this is a Mennonite Recipe blog, it must be transferred over here. I trust that a few more Portzelky recipes that are a yearly favorite in some of the other Mennonite homes from the women on this blog will follow.
I decided to post it before New Years Day so that you could see what you needed and avoid a last minute rush to the market.

Portzelky (Terry's Grandma's Recipe) pronounced . . .
par cel tche


In a large bowl put
  • 2 tablespoons yeast
  • 1/2 cup warm water 
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
Stir the yeast, warm water, and sugar together slightly and let rest 10 minutes.

Add
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  •  5 beaten eggs
  • 1/4 cup very soft butter or (melted is fine)
  • 2 1/2 cups of warm milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
Stir this together very well.
Add
  • 4 cups of raisins (these must be fresh . .not something you dig out of the bottom of the drawer)
Start to stir in the flour. You'll need 7 cups. This will make a fairly stiff batter.
  1. Cover this up with plastic wrap or a lid and let rise until it's doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
  2. Drop by tablespoons into hot, deep fat ( I Use Canola oil) and fry until golden brown. Now this can be a bit tricky. If the fat is not hot enough they will soak up too much fat and that is not good. If the fat is too hot they will brown too quickly and still be doughy in the middle. It's a good idea to throw some bread cubes in first to see how they fry. After all these years I still usually have to throw out the first one or two.
  3. It's a good idea to stick in a toothpick to the middle of the Portzelky every once in a while to make sure it comes out clean.
  4. When you take them out of the oil, put them on some paper towel to sop up the oil.
It has become tradition in my family to call together all my Geschwister (siblings) and their families to have a bowl of soup, and some Portzelky on New Years Day. This has become our Christmas gathering.
from the kitchen of 27 comments:
recipe file

Portzelky (New Year Fritters)


By the sound of the name, I imagine that these New Years fritters were adopted from our Ukrainian roots. My own mother was not in the habit of making these, but the family I married into was, so I chose this recipe many years ago, submitted by a Mrs. J. H. Peters to the Mennonite Treasury of Recipes. The trick is to make sure that the oil is the right temperature, so it is good if you can use an electric pan or fryer where you can set it. This recipe makes 3 dozen.

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 1/2 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups raisins
  • 1/2 cup prunes cut into small pieces
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 3 egg whites, beaten stiff
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons instant yeast
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
1 litre Canola oil (approx) for frying



Method:
  1. Rinse raisins with boiling water to plump
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine milk, water, salt, sugar, soda, raisins and prunes.
  3. Combine flour, baking powder and yeast, adding some to the liquids.
  4. Stir egg yolks into batter and then add the rest of the dry ingredients to make a heavy batter which will be rather stiff.
  5. Fold in beaten egg whites with spatula
  6. Cover and let rise until double in size. (half to one hour)
  7. Using two regular tablespoons (one for scooping and one for scraping) drop into hot oil (about 375° F or 190° C), turning over once and frying until brown. I also like to use a cast iron for deep frying. Pop in a few kernels of popcorn, once they pop, you know the oil is hot enough. 
  8. Scoop into a paper towel lined pan and roll in sugar while still warm.
Happy New Year!

from the kitchen of 39 comments:
recipe file

Brie in Puffed Pastry


Brie in Puffed Pastry
This is a very simple dish to serve as an appetizer or dessert.

Ingredients:
  • 1 whole Brie ( I used a 19.6 oz. round)
  • 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry thawed
  • 1/2- 1 cup chopped toasted nuts (pecans or walnuts)
  • 1/2- 1 cup jam/preserves of your choice (I used a chipotle raspberry)
  • 1 egg beaten with 1 Tbsp. water.
  • 1 sheet of parchment paper
  • Bread or crackers to serve with the Brie
Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Roll thawed sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to approximately 12-14 inches square. Spread chopped nuts in circle in center of pastry. 
  3. Top the nuts with the jam/preserves. 
  4. Place brie circle centered on the jam. 
  5. At this stage you can use some of the pastry to cut out a decoration for the top. 
  6. Fold up the edges of the pastry to cover the brie completely. 
  7. Flip the Brie wrapped in pastry over. 
  8. Add decoration if you like. 
  9. Place the Brie on parchment lined baking sheet. 
  10. Brush the pastry with beaten egg mixture. 
  11. Bake in 400 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
Note: I prefer to scrape off some of the rind especially from the top where the jam and nuts will rest. I like the idea of the jam permeating the brie easier in the baking process. Although I didn’t have red grapes when I prepared my Brie but it would be a very nice accompaniment.




from the kitchen of 9 comments:
recipe file ,

Oreo Frozen Dessert


In Canada today, Boxing Day is a statutory holiday - a loved part of the Christmas holiday.
The name comes from the British practice of
"boxing up" Christmas gifts and food on the day after Christmas to give to the poor.
Growing up, we celebrated Christmas on Christmas Day with one side of the family and with the other side of the family on Boxing Day.
It meant 2 big meals back to back and lots of fun with cousins on both sides.
If that's the case in your family, you may need a quick dessert today.
This dessert is a breeze to make and tastes like Oreo ice cream.
If you make it in the morning you'll have a yummy dessert ready
for who ever comes to call on Boxing Day.

  • 1 package cream filled Chocolate cookies cookies (I use Oreos)
  • 1 pint heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 2 tablespoons Kahlua or other coffee flavoured liqueur
  1. Break cookies into small pieces (kids love to help with this!)
  2. Place 1 cup cookie pieces in bottom of glass 9x13 inch pan.
  3. Whip cream, adding your choice of flavouring.
  4. Whip till stiff peaks form. (you do not want to sweeten the cream as the cookies will provide enough sweetness.)
  5. Fold remaining cookie pieces into cream.
  6. Pile into prepared pan and smooth top.
  7. Cover with foil and freeze for several hours or until firm.
  8. Remove from freezer about 1/2 hour before serving (or you can serve it frozen) and cut into serving pieces.
  9. Garnish with your choice of shaved chocolate, mini cookies, cherry pie filling or berries.
from the kitchen of 6 comments:
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Christmas Menu Ideas

We have a special post for you today.
With all the Christmas gatherings, it would be a nice to offer you some menu ideas for this festive season. 
Everything from a cookie exchange with friends, fun in the snow with the kids to Christmas and New Year menu ideas. I hope you enjoy browsing through the recipes and getting some ideas to include in your own celebrations.
All the best wishes for this wonderful season to all our readers. It comes lovingly from our kitchens to yours.

Cookie Exchange


Anneliese's Angel Kisses



 
Judy's Rolo Cookies





Bev's Pfeffernuesse


Marg's Tee Gebaeck




Christmas Morning Brunch 

Christmas Dinner


How about trying a Glazed Ham instead of a turkey
Recipe from Anneliese


Charlotte's Meatballs

Anneliese's Yam Casserole

Betty's Gelatin Salad


Snow Party
While the kids are on Christmas vacation. Enjoy a day out playing in the snow. Come in out of the cold  and enjoy some hot chocolate to warm up is a good start. Enjoy these tasty recipes with your friends and family.


Anneliese's Surprise Spread

Betty's Wiener Rolls


Bev's Honig Kuchen

New Years Day Open House 


from the kitchen of 24 comments:
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