The invention of the telephone opened up a whole new world of communication. Remember carrying a dime to use an outside pay phone? Today, the cell phone allows us the freedom to call from anywhere.
While visiting my parents, my 10-year-old grandson noticed and asked his dad how their old-fashioned rotary phones worked. He tried to use it but couldn’t get the numbers to move. His father proceeded to show him how to move the numbers. My son then showed my dad his cell phone, and my dad laughed and said he couldn’t get one to work. So much for progress!
Call me old-fashioned, but I do not need the latest kitchen appliances and gadgets. They clutter my kitchen and take too much time to use and clean. I prefer good knives, mixing spoons and a hand mixer. Besides, I have my own personal food processor — my husband — bless him! I tend to cut veggies too big but he has the patience to slice and dice small.
I like short-cuts and saving time when cooking. My brother-in law gave me this recipe for pierogi. He uses lasagna noodles instead of homemade dough, and layers them with filling in a casserole dish instead of making individual pierogis. Saves lots of time and tastes good too. Good, old-fashioned comfort food
perfect for a winter meal.
Joe’s Lazy Pierogi Casserole
12 cooked lasagna noodles
2 cups cottage cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup onion powder
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups fresh cooked mashed potatoes
1/2 cup butter
1 cup chopped onion
Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and cover bottom with four cooked lasagna noodles. While noodles are cooking, mix together in a bowl the cottage cheese, egg and onion powder. Spoon over noodles. Cover with four more noodles. In a bowl, mix together the cheddar cheese and potatoes and spread over noodles. Cover with remaining four noodles. In a frying pan, saute chopped onions in the butter until soft. Spoon over noodles. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream.
Annette Sica writes a column about cooking for community newspapers. She is a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Baldwinsville.
