Serves 1

Dough

• 1 1/2 c (abt) water, warm
• 1 ts Sugar
• 1 pk (1/4 oz, 7 grams) dry yeast
• 3 1/2 cup of Flour
• 3 tb Corn oil
• 1 Egg, separated
• 1 Egg yolk, beaten WITH
• 1/2 tablespoons of Corn oil

Stuffings:

Squash, Calabasa or Pumpkin

• 1/4 cup Corn oil
• 2 md (2 cups) onions, chopped
• 1 cup - water, hot & 1/4 tablespoons of salt
• 2 tablespoons of Sugar
• 1 pound Butternut squash, calabasa or pumpkin

Meat

• 2 tb Corn oil
• 3 md (2 cups) onion, chopped
• 1 lb Ground beef or lamb
• 1/2 ts Salt, or to taste
• 1/4 ts Pepper, peeled & cut into
• -1/2-in pieces

Cheese

• 1 lb Farmer cheese
• 1 Egg yolk, beaten
• 3 tb Sugar
• 1/2 tablespoons of Ground cinnamon

Jam

• 1 cup Strawberry or grape or prune jam (lekach)
• 2 tablespoons of Bread crumbs

Bichak are popular appetizers for tea or coffee hour. The pumpkin & jam stuffings are on the sweet side while meat & cheese are savory & could be eaten for lunches w/salad & dish of yoghurt. An added attraction is that they may be prepared in large quantities, cooled & frozen for the future.

Heat oil in a pan, add onions, & saute over moderate heat until onions turn golden. Add water, salt, sugar, & squash or calabasa or pumpkin & bring to a boil. Cover pan & cook over low heat for about 20 mins as squash/calabasa/pumpkin becomes soft & disintegrates. Stir now & then, which in effect mashes contents. Continue last mins of cooking, uncovered, to evaporate all liquid & create & thick jam. The mash is still moist.

MEAT: Heat oil in a skillet & brown onions lightly over moderate heat. Add meat, salt, & pepper & stir-fry for 5 mins, making certain liquid has evaporated & mixture is dry. Cool.

CHEESE: Mix everything together. Set aside.

JAM: Mix jam & crumbs together. Set aside.

TO PREPARE TRICORNERS: 1. Mix 1/2 c warm water, sugar, & yeast together & proof in a warm place until mixture foams, abt 10 mins.

2. Make a well in flour, add yeast mixture, oil, & 1 egg white, & stir them into flour. Add balance of water, or enough water to prepare a soft dough. Knead for several mins & roll into a ball. Oil top lightly & leave dough in mixing bowl. Cover bowl w/foil or a towel & let rise for 45 mins to 1 hour.

3. Punch down dough ball. Pull off abt 1/2 cup of dough & roll into a slightly flattened ball. Prepare 6 balls.

4. On well-floured board roll out each ball, 1 at a time, to 12-" pancake. Using empty can or a cookie cutter, 3-" in diameter, cut out circles in pancake. Put 1 tb of whichever stuffing you are using, or variety of stuffings, in center of each circle. Fold over right & left side of circle to meet in the center & bring up bottom to cover stuffing. Pinch ends together to form tricorner pastry. Seal in contents. Paint tops of bichak w/egg yolk.

5. Line baking pan or cookie sheet w/lightly oiled aluminum foil. Place tricorners on foil & bake in a preheated 350F. oven for about 40 mins, or until brown. Serve warm. Makes 48 to 50 bichak.

NOTE: Cool bichak, store in plastic bags, & freeze. To serve, thaw out frozen bichak for 1/2 hour & heat in preheated 350F. Oven for 5-10 mins.