Kolache

Kolache (pronounced "ko - losh") are a type of Czech/Slovak pastry filled with different things like fruits, cheese, or sausage.  I remember my best friend Ruth Ann's (I called her Than) grandmother, Gram Huebner making kolaches once a week along with home made bread. I would stop there with Than on the way home from school to get her fresh homemade pastries.  Gram Huebner would always make hers with fruit jams she made.  I wish I had her recipe now, but have to go with what I think is a close copy.  My memory always goes back to hers as being the best though.

Dough

1  .25 ounce envelope fast acting dry yeast

1 cup of warm milk

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup soft butter

1 egg

3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 pint jar peach (or your very favorite) preserves

Sprinkle yeast over the warm milk (not hotter than 110 degrees or you will kill the yeast) in a large bowl or better yet, the bowl of a stand mixer that has been fitted with a dough hook.  Let sit for 5 minutes or until foamy.

Add the sugar, butter and egg to the milk mixture in the bowl and stir until the mixture is combined.  Add the salt.  Slowly add the flour, one quarter at a time until it is completely mixed in and dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.  Knead for 5 minutes.

Spray a large bowl with non-stick cooking spray.  Place the dough in the bowl and spray the top with more cooking spray.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a cotton towel.  Place in a warm, draft free space and let rise until double in size, approximately 1 to 2 hours.

Roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Divide into 16 equal portions.  Roll portions into balls and place in a greased baking dish (you may have to use 2 pans to fit all the dough).  Don't worry about crowding them just a bit as they will bake together.

With the back your fingers, make an indention in the middle of each ball of dough.  Fill each indention with a heaping teaspoon of your favorite preserves. 

Cover with additional plastic wrap and let rise again for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place your risen kolaches in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes or until light golden brown.

You may drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze on top (powdered sugar, milk and vanilla)

Hope you have a great Monday and be happy.  May God bless you and yours.