If I want to make a very special meal for my family then I make Wareneki. If you are not Russian Mennonite then you probably don’t know what that is. If you would go to a restaurant in Manitoba, you might find Wareneki on the menu.

Wareneki is a cottage cheese perogie. You make the dough and if you want real authentic Wareneki then you must make the cottage cheese too. The dough is then rolled out and filled with the cottage cheese and egg mixture.

My husband grew up in Manitoba and is a Russian Mennonite. His mother makes the best Wareneki and my children always look forward to when grandma serves her wonderful Wareneki and farmers sausage.

Since this is a favorite meal of my husband, I learned to make it soon after we were married.

The other week for valentines I decided to show my love to my family by making Wareneki. It takes a little bit more time to make but everyone enjoyed it.

Start by making the Wareneki dough.

6 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp salt

flour, enough to make a firm dough

Mix dough in mixer with a dough hook. Knead by hand to finish. Roll with a pasta maker or rolling pin until 1/8 inch thick.

I love to use the pasta maker that goes on my Kitchen Aid mixer. I also have a crank one but then you need at least one other person to help.

Run them through your pasta maker a few times until they are the right thickness.

Filling

3 pounds dry cottage cheese

1 tsp salt

Pepper, to taste

2 eggs, beaten (more eggs if it is very dry. If too runny then add a bit of flour as it should hold together when squeezed.)

Your dough strips should be 5 inches wide. Starting at one end of your dough strips, place a large tablespoon of filling and fold the dough over to make a pocket. Cut the dough and pinch the edges shut. Place the raw perogies on wax paper on a cookie sheet. Can be frozen or cooked immediately.

To prepare

Place Wareneki in large kettle of boiling water. Boil 8-10 minutes then drain.

Serve with farmer’s sausage and make cream gravy to pour over top of Wareneki.

Gravy

3-4  Tablespoons Butter or margarine

2 Tablespoons flour

2 cups milk or cream

4 slices American cheese

Melt butter and stir in flour. Add milk slowly and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil while stirring and add cheese and stir until thickened.