Pampushke Ukrainian Recipes

Steps:

• Soak poppy seeds overnight in water. Drain well. Grind poppy seeds (I use a meat grinder but a coffee or spice grinder I hear works well. You know the poppy seeds are ground when they become a bit sticky and slightly milky in color. To get this started in a meat grinder add 1 or 2 soda crackers when you start and it helps to start the process, otherwise, you have to run it thru around 4 times). Then, add the other ingredients and cook on a double boiler for 15 mins or until thickens, stirring constantly. Can be done the night before and refridgerated.
• Combine yeast, sugar, and warm water and let stand 10 mins to 'proof' (which is to show the yeast is active). Scald milk then add butter and let melt. Add milk mix to yeast mix. Beat together eggs, vanilla, and salt. Add to milk and yeast mix. Add flour and knead until smooth. Let rise, knead, let rise again until double in bulk. Roll out dough approx 1/4 inch thick and cut into circles approx 3 inches in diameter. Spoon small amount of filling into circle of dough and pinch edges together well. (if it's not sealed well it will break open in the oil). Let rise 10 mins more, then deep fry in oil or lard until golden brown. Can be eaten plain, after dusted with powdered sugar, or dipped in white sugar or doughnut glaze. Tip: to keep doughnuts from flipping over when cooking the second side because of a big air bubble formed from rising yeast, cook the first side lightly first, then the second till done, and then finish the first side before taking out of oil.

Steps:

• POPPY SEED FILLING: The night before, cover poppy seeds with boiling water and let them soak until the following morning, or wash and parboil for 30 minutes just before grinding. Drain thoroughly and grind in a poppy-seed grinder, or put them through the finest blade of your meat chopper 3 or 4 times. I use a coffee grinder for this. (or buy ground poppy seeds if there is a store near you that prepares them, but be sure they are not rancid.).
• Cream butter with honey. When well blended, combine with cream, poppy seeds and remaining filling ingredients. (Some people prefer to omit the butter and to cook the ground poppy seeds with 2 cups milk and the honey until the mixture is thick. The other ingredients are then stirred in.).
• FOR THE DOUGHNUTS: Sprinkle yeast into warm water, add 1 tablespoon sugar, cover lightly and set aside in a warm place for 5 to 10 minutes, or until mixture. Scald milk and stir in butter, salt and sugar. When butter melts, cool milk to lukewarm. Combine with beaten eggs and yolks and yeast mixture, vanilla and lemon rind. Gradually beat in enough flour to make a medium firm dough that is still pliable. Knead until smooth and elastic-about 10 minutes. Place dough in a floured bowl, dust with flour and set to rise in a draft free corner until double in bulk-about 1 1/2 hours. Punch dough down and let it rise again until doubled.
• Turn dough onto a floured board and roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into circles with a 3-inch round cookie cutter. Place a teaspoonful of filling on half of the circles. Top with unfilled circles and pinch edges closed, using a little cold water to seal them. Let rise, uncovered, on floured board until doubled in bulk.
• Fry a few at a time in lard heated to 375°F Turn once so both sides become golden brown. Allow about 6 minutes for frying each batch. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Makes about 2 dozen doughnuts.
• Visions of SugarPlums.