For Lisa - Kolache recipe

Kolaches are a Czech pastry - very tasty

2 tsp. dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 cups warm milk
2/3 cup melted oleo
2 egg yolks
7 cups flour

Dissolve dry yeast in warm water. Mix all ingredients together and leave rise once. Place on floured board or table; cut in small balls and place in greased pan. Brush the tops with melted oleo and let rise until double. Then spread out center and fill with your favoite filling. Let rise again. Place in 450 degree oven for 12 minutes. Topping for kolaches: Blend 2 tblsp. melted oleo with 2 tblsp sugar and 4 tblsp flour until crumbly. Sprinkle a little on each kolache.

Fillings used are: prune, poppyseed, apricot, cherry & cottage cheese
Poppyseed filling: Bring 2 cups milk or water (I like milk) to a boil. Stiry in 1/2 lb. of ground poppyseed. Let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Add 3/4 cup sugar, 1 Tbl. white syrup and 1/4 tsp. salt. Simmer a few min. longer. Remove from heat and add 1/2 tsp. almond extract, 2 Tbl. butter, 1 tsp vanilla and 2 crushed graham crackers
Prune filling: Cook 1 lb. prunes until soft. Drain and remove pits. Mash prunes and add 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Apple butter may also be added.
Apricot filling: Cook 1 pkg. apricots in enough water just to cook in. Mash and add sugar to taste.
Cottage cheese filling: Mix 1 lb. dry cottage cheese, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 3/4 cup white raisins.
Cherry filling: Use canned sherries, sweetened and thickened with cornstart and water. Add a lump of butter.
Good luck. They are work, but they are worth it.