Kolace

This recipe came from an old cook book that Uncle Bud had at his ranch.

Soft Yeast Dough

1 package yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons lukewarm milk

Mix the ingredients together and stir until mixture is well mixed. Cover with a cloth and let rise in a warm place for 5 to 10 minutes. Add:

4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon lemon peel
1 cup lukewarm milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix well. Remove dough from the bowl and put on a floured pastry board and knead until it is smooth and does not stick. Return to the bowl, sprinkle with flour and cover with a cloth. Let rise in a warm place (about 60 degrees) 30 to 60 minutes or until it is almost double. Punch down, form into desired shapes and let rise again for about 30 minutes. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

To make the kolache:

Use 1 recipe soft yeast dough
2-3 cup filling
1 egg, beaten
sugar

Prepare dough. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured board to about 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into 3 inch rounds and place on a buttered baking sheet. Press down the center of the rounds with the bottom of a 2 inch glass to form a hollow; place a spoonful of filling in each. Let rise again. Brush the edges with the egg. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. When the buns are cool, sprinkle with sugar. Makes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen.

Poppy Seed Filling

2 cups ground poppy seed
3/4 cup milk
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Simmer the poppy seeds in milk, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Stir in sugar, butter and vanilla, cinnamon, lemon peel, and simmer for 5 minutes longer.

Cool filling, blend in a egg yolk and fold in stiffly beaten egg white. Makes about
1 1/2 - 2 cups filling.

Prune Butter Filling

1 cup prune butter
1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons warm water or rum
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon or orange peel

Mix the prune butter with water or rum. Add all other ingredients and blend.

Updated, November 18, 2016--How to make Prune Butter: http://www.czechheritage.org/Recipes/kolaches.html

Prune butter:  cook 30 prunes in water to cover until tender; drain.  Mash with fork;
stir in 1/4  cup sugar and 1/4 tsp. ground allspice.  Filling should be thick.
Makes enough for 14 kolaches.