This is Brad's Family Object

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    On my mother's side of the family I was able to track as far back as my great grandparents Antoine Kroupa and Julia Shemnick who were both from Czechoslovakia.  My great grandfather Kroupa came through Ellis Island in 1909 and my great grandmother came through in 1910.  Both taking the two week boat trip from Europe to the United States in an attempt to leave the poverty stricken country.  Then there were my great grandparents, my grandfather's parents Arthur and Leah Bollis.  Arthur came from Canada and met Leah in Michigan.  Both of them eventually settled down in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

      On my father's side I was able to track as far back as my great-great grandmother on my grandmother's side; who lived in Poland.  In the late 1800's, she was raped by a tribesman from the Tartars, who were a fierce Mongolian tribe who terrorized Western China and Eastern Europe.  Unfortunately, she passed away when my great grandmother was very young and she was raised by her Aunt.  At the age of 9 she started to work in a bakery in Poland.  A few years later she and her Aunt left Poland and migrated to Canada.  While in Canada she had a marriage arranged for her at the age of 16.  Her husband, who was also from Poland, was 26 years old at the time.  As for my grandfather's side I was unable to any information about them, but I do know that they immigrated from Germany.  Eventually settling down in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with the rest of my great grandparents.  Most of my family remains in Wisconsin, but my family moved from Wisconsin shortly after I was born.  

Flag of Poland

        Brad's family object are two polish recipes that have been passed down for three generations now.  The first recipe is Pierogi or (Sliwkami).  The second recipe are for Potato Dumplings or (Kartofli).

Potato Dumplings;  Ingredients: 2 eggs, 1/2 t salt, 1/2 cup ice water, 1/2 t baking powder, 1 T melted butter, 2 cups of flour.

Mix together to make dough and roll out to 1/4 inch.  Fill with beef filling (made day before) beef filling is fried beef roast shredded with minced onion, salt & pepper fried together.  Roll out dough with 1 tabl. of beef, cover beef with dough, and cut in half circle, seal with fork dipped in water to seal.  Place in boiling water for 10 minutes, remove and drain on rack.  Fry in butter on both sides till it's nice and brown.  Enjoy!!

 

 

Pierogi on a plate

Pierogi:  2 cups grated raw potatoes, squeeze out liquid from potatoes, add one egg, salt, and add flour a little at a time to a consistency that will make a small ball, minced onions can be added according to taste.  Place in boiling water with added salt, and cook about 15 minutes (keep cover on tight).  Drain dumplings and serve with pork renderings melted and tiny bits of the pork, over the dumplings and serve hot. Very Good!!