Farmer’s Cheese Filling

1. If making farmer’s cheese from scratch, prepare it first (see blog post above). Otherwise, drain cottage cheese well or pulse briefly in a food processor until smooth.
2. In a medium bowl, combine farmer’s cheese (or cottage cheese), egg yolk, sour cream, salt, and pepper.
3. Mix until cohesive but not runny—the filling should be thick, spoonable, and easy to shape.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Pierogi Dough

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour and salt. Add eggs, softened butter, sour cream, and water.
2. Mix with the dough hook until a shaggy dough forms, then knead on medium speed until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
   (If kneading by hand, expect 15–20 minutes of steady kneading.)
3. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Cover with an overturned bowl and let rest for at least 15 minutes.  This step is critical—see note #1 below.
4. Divide the rested dough into 2–3 portions for easier rolling.

Assembly

1. On a floured surface, roll one portion of dough as thin as possible—you should be able to read newsprint through it.
2. Cut into 3½-inch circles using a round cutter or glass. Gather scraps, reroll, and continue.
3. Place 1 teaspoon filling in the center of each circle.
4. Fold dough over into a half-moon and press edges firmly to seal. Crimp with fingers or a fork, or use a pierogi press for speed and consistency.
5. Place finished pierogi on a floured baking sheet in a single layer until ready to cook.

Cooking

1. Bring a large pot (2–3 gallons) of salted water to a gentle boil. Add pierogi in batches, stirring gently to prevent sticking.
2. Boil until pierogi float to the surface, then cook 1 minute more. Remove with a slotted spoon.
3. Toss boiled pierogi in melted butter to coat. Allow to cool, then transfer to freezer bags (one variety per bag) and freeze.
4. To serve, heat a skillet over medium heat with fresh butter. Fry pierogi straight from the freezer until golden brown and hot, about 4–5 minutes per side.