Maria Rozynska is the first member to take advantage of our upgrade option. In recognition of her upgrade to small business under Just Be Cooking, we promote her workshops and events.
I recently attended a Pierogi Workshop hosted by Maria Rozynska, owner of Just Be Cooking. Set at a beautiful kitchen studio in Forest Hill, this class provided a fantastic introduction to pierogi-making, as well as being a cozy way to spend a Friday night in the city. Being a woman of Polish descent with a partner who’s grandmother makes renowned homemade pierogies, learning how to cook traditional Polish dumplings from scratch was something I have always wanted to learn – even though they will never be as good as grandmas!
After an introduction to Polish cuisine, Maria began her pierogi demonstration by explaining the dough component. What I quickly came to learn is that this is critical, if not the most important, part of the recipe – the foundation for these pillows of joy. Using only four ingredients, plus a little water, we rolled, spread, and beat the dough until it was the recommended consistency. After letting it sit for a period of time, we moved on to the assembly line: cutting the dough into rounds, filling each with traditional Polish filling (varieties we had were: potato and cheese, mushroom and sauerkraut, and sweet cherry), and sealing each dumpling very carefully to ensure they stay together during boiling.
Making pierogies may look easy, albeit time-consuming, but this process is surprisingly much more difficult than one would think. Luckily, Maria kept a close eye on the group and ensured each and every one of us had her individual attention: maintaining quality control and answering any questions that one had. After our batches were complete, she prepared our pierogies for something akin to a traditional Polish dinner, with delicious mizeria (cucumber salad) and Żubrówka vodka on the side, while we listened to the music of Polky Village Band, a local folk group. I absolutely loved Polky Village Band, who put on a fantastic performance singing traditional Polish and Ukrainian folk songs, with Maria even joining in at some parts as well. After hours in the kitchen, it was such a lovely way to enjoy our homemade and hard-earned pierogi dinner. How on earth can grandmothers do this so frequently?
The Hands-On Pierogi Workshop by Maria Rozynska was by far one of my favourite events of this summer, and definitely my most memorable. Between the wonderful people I met, the beautiful Polish folk music, and amazing instruction, I’m already looking forward to my next Polish cooking lesson. Until then, I’ll be adventuring on my life-long journey to honing the perfect pierogi, with the hopes of one day, being just as good as grandma.
CPCC Contributor Alana de Haan | Facebook | Instagram
Small Business Upgrade for Maria Rozynska from individual to small business: Just Be Cooking
Upcoming Pierogi Workshops: October 13, 18 and the 27th. Subscribe to Just Be Cooking’s newsletter or like the Facebook page to stay up to date. Live Music by Polky Village Band.
Interested in your own membership upgrade? Contact info@canada-poland.com
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