In a small bowl mix 1/2 cup of water, 1 tsp of sugar, and 2 Tbs yeast. Set aside.
In a dough mixer, cream margarine with sugar, add eggs one by one, salt, and 2 cups of flour.
Add 1-1/2cups of water, yeast mixture, and 2 more cups of flour.
Switch beaters to dough hook. Add lemon zest and the rest of the flour. Mix well. If the dough sticks to your fingers when pinched add more flour.
Place in a bowl with greased bottom, cover, and let rise in warm place.
Empty the dough from the bowl on to a floured surface. Kneed till more firm.
Roll out the dough like a pizza in a rectangle shape.
Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray. Place the dough on it, and spread it with your fingers covering the whole sheet. With bent pointer push the dough towards the edge of the pan creating pizza like edge.
Make toping by mixing topping ingredients together by hand.
For Koláče you may use plums, apricots, or blueberries. If using plums or apricots, split the fruit in half, take the pit out, and place the fruit centre down. Completely over the dough’s surface, and sprinkle with ½ c of sugar and crumble toping over the fruit.
Preheat the oven to 350° F and bake for 40 minutes or till the edges are light brown.
You can also make different sizes and shapes, where you leave edge like pizza. When using this method brush the edges with egg wash, and bake 25 to 30 minutes.
In 1 cup of lukewarm milk dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar, and stir in the yeast. Set aside.
In the dough mixer place flour, melted margarine, sugar, egg jokes, rest of the milk, salt, orange zest, and the yeast mixture. Mix into a smooth dough.
Let rise in a warm place until double in size.
Cut the dough into several small pieces about golf sized balls. Shape the pieces in the middle of your Palm into balls.
Flour the work surface and flatten the balls into flat circles.
Preheat oil (Medium heat) in a deep skillet or pot.
Place the flattened pieces into preheated oil.
Once the pieces turn light, golden brown turn them over.
Take each fried peace out, and place it on a paper towel.
Garnish with toppings .
Recipe Notes
Fried Vdolky are best served with plum or pear sauce. Spread the sauce evenly on the top and add a teaspoon of vanilla yogurt in the center. You may sprinkle some shredded sour cheese (Tvaroh) or just dust with powdered sugar. Whipped cream is also an option.
In 1 cup of lukewarm milk dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar, and stir in the yeast. Set aside.
In the dough mixer place flour, melted margarine, sugar, egg yolks, rest of the milk, salt, orange zest, and the yeast mixture. Mix into a smooth dough.
Let rise in a warm place until double in size.
Cut the dough into several small pieces about golf sized balls. Shape the pieces in the middle of your Palm into balls.
Flour the work surface and flatten the balls into flat circles.
Vdolky can be baked or deep-fried. To bake Vdolky preheat (preferably cast iron) skillet on low heat. Place flatened pieces on the hot skillet without any grease. The bottom of each piece should turn light brown. With a butter knife turn the pieces over. Each Vdolek will take approximately 3 to 5 minutes to cook on each side.
When done baking, brush each piece with vegetable oil on bouth sides.
To serve these we must first garnish them with toppings. For baked Vdolky we use pear sauce filling, which we generously spread on top of the roll and add a spoon full of vanilla yogurt in the middle. Dust with powdered sugar.
Heat milk in a small bowl in a microwave . The temperature needs to be comfortable to the touch . Add sugar, dissolve and sprinkle yeast on top. Stir yeast in the milk and let rest.
Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl or dough mixer, along with the yeast mixture. Mix well. If the dough is too sticky add more flour.
Place dough in a bowl (coat it with nonstick spray). Cover the dough, and let rest for 30 minutes in a warm place.
Dumplings are filled with fruit of your choice (strawberries, blueberries, apricots, plums, blackberries or even bananas). Fresh fruit is always better, but you may also use frozen.Wash fresh fruit in a strainer and let dry on a paper towel.
When the dough rested long enough, place it on a clean, flat surface.
Shape the dough with a kneading motion into a smooth ball. Roll the ball into a long thick coil, and cut 1 inch thick slices with a knife. Shape each piece into a ball and then flatten them up.
Place the dough into your palm and position the fruit in the middle.
Wrap the edges of the dough around the fruit, and pinch tightly together, till no fruit is showing, and the dough is tightly sealed. Repeat with each piece.
Set the finished dumplings sealed side down on a floured surface to rest for 15-20 minutes. Cover with cloth.
To cook the dumplings, you are going to need a large pot with lid, filled half way up with water. Bring it to rolling boil. Place the dumplings one by one into the pot and stir with wooden spoon. The dumplings will get twice as big so don’t put too many of them in.
Cover with a lid and return to full boil. Turn down the heat to medium high and place wooden spoon between the lid and the pot for the steam to escape.
Boil for 4 minutes, uncover the lid, and with a wooden spoon turn each dumpling over ( tops will be on the bottom). Place lid back on, and continue boiling for four more minutes.
When the dumplings are ready to be taken out, you have to work quickly. Prepare large bowl, curved spatula, and two forks, right next to your pot.
Take one dumpling at a time out, and quickly place forks opposite from each other on the top of a dumpling and make a little rip in the dumpling for the steam to escape. If the steam is not let out, the dumpling will lose its fluffiness. Speed is very important here. Serve hot.
To serve the dumpling, place desired amount of dumplings on a plate sprinkle with powder sugar, favorite yogurt or home made Tvaroh (Czech sour cheese) and drizzle with melted butter.
