Runzas- perfect for a cold, rainy day in the trenches

[vavavroom]

As some of you may remember from a previous post, I love Cornish pasties. Not all the miners and minors couldn't have been wrong about this handy hot food pocket, eh? Now I made runzas, a related* stuffed bread pocket that originates with the Wolga Germans that were kicked out of Russia and settled in droves in Nebraska in the late 19th century. That's 19th century portable food you could take out on the range, eat in your jail cell, or toss to your hungry kids.

*An example of convergent culinary evolution rather than a case of plagiarism

I decided to make my runzas with a ground beef, sautéed onion, and sauerkraut filling with mustard, fennel, and cumin added in addition to some other spices. This filling would be also excellent in a pasty.

Made a yeast dough and let rise twice.


Divided dough in six pieces, formed balls, rolled out and added filling. folded into ball, pinched and tucked dough under. Placed stuffed rolls on baking sheet and let rise another half hour. Brushed them with butter.


Almost done baking


Maybe I should have seeded the rolls. But the filling had enough flavor. Seeded would look prettier. I'm all about pretty.




One half is top up, the other one is bottom up,

 

[skyactiv]

And you hired a chef for your wife's birthday.

 

[skyactiv]

Can I hire you as a chef for my wife's birthday?

 

[vavavroom]

And you hired a chef for your wife's birthday.

She doesn't want to eat my slop twice a day.

 

[vavavroom]

Can I hire you as a chef for my wife's birthday?

Never hire an amateur for anything.

 

[Rand]

When is dinner?

 

[Pablo]

Kinda like a non steamed bao

When old grumpy said he had runzas. I thought it was the end.

 

[vavavroom]

When old grumpy said he had runzas. I thought it was the end.

Speaking of @Jdeere562, he's got runzas coming out of the wazoo. It's a local thing, I think.

 

[Pablo]

Speaking of @Jdeere562, he's got runzas coming out of the wazoo. It's a local thing, I think.

I think they are common in his neck of the woods

 

[vavavroom]

I think they are common in his neck of the woods

Yeah, they have a Runza bakery chain. No runzas in CA anywhere but at my house! I do prefer pasties. Will have to make pasties with that runza filling next.

 

[TmanP]

Looks delicious! We have lots of Runza restaurants that make the sandwich (among other things) here in Nebraska, but they stay pretty tight to the state line - there's a couple in Iowa, Colorado and Kansas, I believe, plus one just north of the state line in Yankton, South Dakota. Their sandwiches are pretty heavy on the filling and can include cheese (how I like mine).

 

[vavavroom]

Looks delicious! We have lots of Runza restaurants that make the sandwich (among other things) here in Nebraska, but they stay pretty tight to the state line - there's a couple in Iowa, Colorado and Kansas, I believe, plus one just north of the state line in Yankton, South Dakota. Their sandwiches are pretty heavy on the filling and can include cheese (how I like mine).

The options for the filling are endless. In my pasties I like Black Forest ham and Swiss or brie, beef, potatoes, and onions, or anything. Can't go wrong with a hot pasty. I ate my first pasty as a little kid in the UK and then again as a little older kid in Grass Valley. I've only had a few runzas over the years. Meat pies, pierogies, calzones, samosas, empanadas - all taste good!

 

[Jdeere562]

Speaking of @Jdeere562, he's got runzas coming out of the wazoo. It's a local thing, I think.

We actually got a Runza in my 5000 population town this year. Only had a salad from them so far.
Been considering the Chili and cinnamon roll, but keep forgetting.

 

[vavavroom]

When is dinner?

You just missed it. What can I say?

 

[doitmyself]

In 1975, after my first semester of university in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, I went home to Indiana and chatted on the phone with my best friend attending Indiana University. He shared that he had his first visit to a topless bar and the women were only wearing "pasties". I thought how strange, women wearing meat pies on their breasts.

Looks delicious...........the runzas.

 

[vavavroom]

We actually got a Runza in my 5000 population town this year.

I know. You have posted about that previously.

Only had a salad from them so far.

That's a bizarre lapse of judgement. You can eat salad at home.

Been considering the Chili and cinnamon roll, but keep forgetting.

So there's an upside to poor memory. I'm waiting for AM to start forgetting.

 

[vavavroom]

In 1975, after my first semester of university in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, I went home to Indiana and chatted on the phone with my best friend attending Indiana University. He shared that he had his first visit to a topless bar and the women were only wearing "pasties". I thought how strange, women wearing meat pies on their breasts.

He must have mispronounced the baked goods. There's a business idea, though. Reminds me of Naked Fish Sushi. Don't ask.

Looks delicious...........the runzas.

I was going to eat only one but did have another one. I'm weak.

 

[jhellwig]

I should make them at home but the bread part sounds like a lot of work to feed 5 kids. Could just do the filling on hamburger buns.

I keep forgetting about Runza when I am over in Council Bluffs.

 

[Jdeere562]

County Public Health Nurse caught me by surprise today. Did not have my list ready.

Salad sounds delicious, but not bagged stuff from the store. I want more of a baby chef's salad with lots of stuff.

I did learn a new favorite dressing in the nursing home. Just cut up tomato and onions, salt them to sweat and collect the juice. Can't imagine how good it would be with garden produce.

 

[Jdeere562]

I keep forgetting about Runza when I am over in Council Bluffs.

I worked in Council Bluffs 18 years and retired a couple years ago.
Only had 1/2 hour lunch break. Runza was too far for that time frame, so I never had lunch there.
Brought my own food 95% of the time anyway.