Day 29 - Pumpkin Cheese Palacinke (like crepes or cheese blintzes)

               Pumpkin Cheese Palacinkes
                (pronounced palla-chinka)


   My Grandma Domijan was a wonderful woman who LOVED to cook. Palacinkes were the replacement for pancakes in my Croatian Grandma's house, and one of my favorite childhood memories. They are kind of like a crepe. We filled them with a variety of things, but my favorite was just plain rolled up, hot off the griddle, with a little butter. Mmmm!!!! A second runner up for filling was just blueberry yogurt. PERFECTION!
If I had been old enough to appreciate it, I would have loved it filled with her homemade mulberry jam. The mulberries that she still climbed the tree for at age 89. Yes, she was busted by my cousin Helen...red handed, in the tree!!! She was a incredible Grandma, and is very missed, especially during the holidays. Many of her traditions will be passed on in our household, and I will share more recipes from her in the future!


Palacinke (makes about 8)
3/4 cup flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
Pinch salt (this was my Grandma's
   recipe, and she'd always say a
   pinch!! - about 1/4 tsp)
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp melted butter or margarine


Filling:
1 lb (16 ounces or 2 cups) small-curd
   cottage cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 cup pumpkin, cooked and pureed


Garnishment:
Whipped Cream
1/4 cup pecans or walnuts


Palacinke:
Heat large frying pan on medium.
Mix eggs, milk, butter in large bowl.
Add sugar and mix. Whisk flour and salt into egg mixture and mix until smooth.
Set aside a few minutes while preparing
batter, then whisk again. Batter should be very thin.
Spray pan with no-stick cooking spray, or melt butter in pan. Pour just enough batter into pan to lightly cover pan. Rotate the pan so the batter spreads and covers entire bottom. Cook palacinke until the center bubbles up and a good test is to see if it slides in the pan. Flip palacinke and cook for a few more minutes. Remove from pan.


Filling:
In a bowl, mix cheese, pumpkin, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice until well blended. This mixture will be lumping with the curds of the cottage cheese. If a smooth consistency is desired, may place in blender and puree. Place entire mixture in saucepan and heat on medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and place filling in bowl to cool for a few minutes.


Take 1 palacinke and place in center of plate. Fill with desired amount of pumpkin mixture, and fold over each side of palacinke. Garnish with whipped cream and nuts, and serve. SCRUMPTIOUS!!!!!


To make as a more a crepe filled entree, leave out sugar in batter. Fill with things like scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, and cheese. Or for lunch ideas, roll turkey and cheese and melt!!! Create your own tradition!!