My Polish Side

I have been wiped out lately! The weather has been SO hot, and the smoke from nearby wildfires has been all but completely suffocating..not to mention the humidity. I slowed down on the cooking front, but now I'm ready to jump back in with both feet. Well, I have already. I just need to record it for you all.

Tuesday night I wasn't really in the mood for cooking, but alas, we all must eat. So I found the quickest and easiest thing in my freezer to make - polska kielbasa and pierogies. My grandmother would be so proud!

Kielbasa cut on the diagonal and slightly caramelized in a dry pan.

Cooks super fast in a hot skillet - quicker than mac and cheese!

I know the potato and onion filling in the pierogies doesn't count as a vegetable, so I won't even bother trying to pass them off as such. I did, however, eat an entire bag of lettuce for lunch. Yes...ENTIRE bag. I was hungry, ok? And besides, it was a Caesar Salad Kit..so I'm sure it was less lettuce than normal.

So anyway, dinner was delicious. You literally heat up the meat in a dry - read: not oiled - pan until slightly caramelized, but not burnt. There is a fine line. Then remove onto a paper towel lined plate while you cook the pierogies. Place them in the skillet, straight from the freezer, with a tablespoon or two of butter or oil. They should be done in about 8 minutes. If you wanted to have a veggie with this, sauteed cabbage is a classic, as is sauteed onions.