Thorsby's Perfect Perogy: A Summer Reading Programme Extraordinaire

Sharon Powlik sprinkles a handful of flour on the table outside the concession window, stretches off a chunk of dough and flattens out a circle with her hands. “I do this by feel,” she says, and loosely shifts it back and forth, then reaches for her heavy rolling pin. When the dough is thin and pliable, she presses and twists a soup can, washed out with the lid removed, and cuts out the platkys, then tosses the dough circles across the table to her mother-in-law, Sophie Powlik, and the rest of us who sit filling and sealing the crescents closed. Sharon’s heritage is Ukrainian, as are many from Thorsby area. Her contagious joie de’vivre reaches everyone at the table as we work contentedly, pinching perogies. Sharon volunteers her time and knowledge to help with Thorsby Library’s Summer Reading Club. Rural libraries host unique and stupendous summer reading club programs by drawing on trusted relationships with individuals, municipalities, organizations and businesses. Thorsby’s Perfect Perogy, is an example.

I hold reverence people who share practical tools for living. To provide such a program in a library setting went beyond my wildest dreams! If the library’s purpose is to make space for knowledge, information and stories, there could be no more life-effecting wisdom than to teach kids how to feed themselves by making food from scratch. Because it is not easy but worth it, I describe the program, including a detailed run down and helpful hints for adapting the idea for your library community in the next post: The Perfect Perogy! Programme details. Give it a try. Host your own unique program to promote literacy, build community, and transfer cultural knowledge.

 

Sharon and her team were at the venue early, prepping for the perogy making. While sitting with the ladies at a table, I asked about a recipe. “You have to ask Sharon,” said Sophie. “Everyone has their own way. Some use eggs, some don’t.” Sharon called out her recipe across the table and I jotted it down. Both babas nodded approvingly so I knew I was good to go. But that was just the dough. What about the filling? How do we make that? They weren’t able to tell me a recipe, everyone agreed, you just “make it as you like it” with mashed potatoes and cheese. Sharon had brought more helpers, her teenage neighbour, and the new RCMP recruit and his twelve-year-old daughter. He wanted to learn because the process reminded him of fond memories of making lefsa with his Norwegian grandmother. I learned enough to try it at home, successfully!

Recipe

Sharon’s Dough Recipe

5 cups flour

½ cup oil

2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

2 cups water

Combine ingredients gently and set aside. Roll dough out with lots of flour on the counter, and use an empty soup can cleaned out, to cut the circles. Let rest, covered, on a t-towel until needed.

Filling

Cook potatoes, drain, and allow to dry.  Add cheddar and butter, salt and pepper to taste, (dill and chopped greens optional).

Boiling

To cook, bring a pot of salted water to boil, add up to 6 perogies. Perogies are done when they rise to the top (about 3-5 minutes).

Topping

Melt butter and ladle over cooked perogies.

Serve with sour cream if desired.

To being the program, 50 drop-in participants gathered in the children’s section while Sharon led games and activities and demonstrated important principles in perogy pinching with a playdough perogy. She knows the subtleties of managing a group, how to draw in the shy folks and catch the eye of newcomers. Most of the participants were elementary aged school kids, excited to be attending a program taught by Mrs. Powlik, their preschool teacher, along with their parents or caregivers, who in some cases, are even more excited to learn this knowledge than their children. Sharon’s confidence and poise showed, and everyone was completely comfortable with her authority, and knowing they were in a safe place.

The close relationships in a small community served us well.  It doesn’t cost a lot…just a bag of flour, salt, potatoes, cheese and some butter will make enough perogies to feed a lot of people, if you know how. This program was possible with thanks thanks to all our partners, Sharon and Darcy Powlik, James (Pucks and Poutine Concession) who supervised the kitchen, ensuring safety, the Town of Thorsby for providing access to the Recreation Centre.

 

Nadia sent word that it was time: the games and activities were over, the children were coming to the concession area to build the real perogies. The kids were handed a plate with their name on, along with three platkys and three balls of filling, and told to pinch the perogies as they had been taught. Sharon headed into the concession to help boil, I took over handing out the supplies and before long the first kids stood at the counter, waiting their turn to get their perogies cooked. “You did it yourself!” exclaimed Sharon, and the kids laughed.

 

Thorsby's Perfect Perogy! A Summer Reading Programme Extraordinaire.  Braided essay/program in a box, was written by Gayle Sacuta, public library manager in Thorsby. Gayle has been the proud organizer of at least five summer reading programs.