A Late Snack: Bierocks!
March 23, 2005 from Delicious! Delicious! www.deliciousdelicious.com
INT. MR. R'S MANSION--KITCHEN--NIGHT
Caryn takes a tray of small, pillow-shaped buns from the oven, setting them on the stove to cool. She grabs a jar of spicy, whole-grain mustard from the fridge and piles a few of the buns on a plate.
Sitting down at the little table in the corner of the huge kitchen, she breaks open a steaming bun, catching meat and cabbage as it tumbles out. She spreads mustard across the top of the bun, and is about to take a bite when she realizes that Mr. R. is watching her from the counter.
CARYN
Oh! I didn't see you.
He laughs good-naturedly and rubs a hand through his well-designed hair.
MR. R.
I snuck in. What're you eating?
Caryn puts down the bun, still steaming in her hand.
CARYN
Oh, they're bierocks. I was going to freeze them, but...
MR. R.
Can I have one?
He gets a plate and sits down. He takes off his coat, revealing a shiny, silk shirt beneath. Way over-dressed for the little table.
CARYN
I can make you something for dinner, if you want.
MR. R.
I just got back from dinner.
He copies Caryn by breaking a bierock apart and slathering it with mustard.
MR. R. (CONT'D)
It was one of those Hollywood places. All scene, food was terrible.
He pops a bite in his mouth.
MR. R. (CONT'D)
I figured you'd have something better here.
Caryn half-smiles and picks at her own bierock, hesitant to continue eating.
CARYN
Is anyone else hungry?
MR. R.
(chuckling mischievously)
No. They're quite happy where they are. I left them there.
He grabs another bierock from the plate and tears at it pensively. Caryn reluctantly steals a bite of her own.
MR. R. (CONT'D)
I don't know. Sometimes I think I'm not really cut out for this business.
He leans back in his chair and studies a button on his shirt.
MR. R. (CONT'D)
Maybe I just prefer to be at home, eating a snack in my own kitchen. You know what I mean?
Caryn pauses for a minute, a little surprised.
CARYN
Yeah, I think I do.
Dough:
2 1/4 tsps. dry yeast
1 cup warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
4+ cups bread flour
Filling:
1/2 medium-sized onion, chopped
1 lb. ground beef, pork, or turkey (I used turkey)
1 TB. vegetable oil
1/2 small head of cabbage, shredded
salt and pepper, to taste
1. Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm milk. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. In a heavy -duty mixer, combine oil, salt and eggs; add yeast mixture. Add 1 cup of flour and beat for 1 minute. Beat in 1/2 cup of flour at a time, until dough pulls away from sides of bowl.
2. Switch to dough hook. Knead on low speed, adding remaining flour 1 TB. at a time, until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
3. Place dough in a well-oiled large bowl and loosely cover. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
4. To make filling, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add meat and onion and cook until meat is browned, stirring to crumble. Add cabbage and cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
5. Punch dough down and let rest 5 minutes.
6. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a letter-sized rectangle (roughly 8 by 11) and cut each rectangle into 6 squares. Spoon 1/4 cup filling into center of each square. Bring opposite corners together at the center, pinching corners and seams to seal. Place seam side down on a large baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise 20 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
8. Uncover and bake until lightly golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Makes 12 bierocks.
Adapted from a Cooking Light recipe (January 2004), Bierocks are a great snack to freeze for quick sack lunches. I pack a couple for day-trip hikes and let them thaw in my backpack.