Kolatki (Ukrainian Christmas Cookies

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

Title: Kolatki (Ukrainian Christmas Cookies
Categories: Cookies
Yield: 1 servings

1/2 lb Cream cheese; room temp
1/2 lb Butter; room temp
3 c Pastry flour; sifted, or
All-purpose flour
1/2 c Whole milk
=== poppyseed filling ===
1/2 lb Broken walnuts
3/4 lb Poppy seeds
1 Egg
1 c Dark rum
1 c Honey
1 c Packed brown sugar
=== coating ===
1/2 c Sugar
2 tb Cinnamon

Recipe by: Michael Slavitch
1. Mix poppy seeds, walnuts, egg and honey. Add rum until the
consistency seems soft, like porridge. Drink remaining rum, you deserve it,
since you'll be baking for a while.
2. Using an egg beater at low, whip soft cream cheese and butter
until it forms peaks, like a frosting (you may need to melt the butter if
the cream cheese is firm). Mix in flour slowly using a wooden spoon or
pastry fork.
3. Roll dough into 3 balls. Occasionally add milk to dough to
keep it from drying out. The dough can be refrigerated for 1-2 hours, but
it is not necessary.
4. Roll out 1 ball at a time and flour lightly. Roll dough out in
flour or granulated sugar so it doesn't stick.
5. Mom's method: Cut dough into squares or circles using cookie or
biscuit cutter. Add about a teaspoon of filling. Roll squares into "logs",
"stars", or "pinwheels". Fold circles over and seal with a fork. This takes
dexterity and patience, sooooo I invented.
6. Mike's Shortcut: Take rolled dough and make into strips about
a foot long and 2" wide. Place a ribbon of filling in the middle. Fold over
dough and pinch to seal at all sides. Cut into 1" squares.
7. Dip into coating and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 375F for
10-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
There is enough sugar and fat to keep the bottoms from sticking to a
clean pan.
Hide in the bedroom and eat these with milk until sick.(Especially
if you are six years old.) Note: The kolatki are delicate, and fancy
shapes require speed and skill. They taste as good using my method. My
mother thinks I am impatient. Once you have eaten these cookies, you will
understand why.

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