Russian Pastries

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 pound Dakota Beef Certified Organic ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dill weed
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

In medium bowl, with hand, knead cream cheese, flour, and butter until smooth. Shape dough into ball: wrap in plastic wrap or foil; refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, hard-cook 1 egg; chop.

In 10-inch skillet over high heat, cook ground beef and onion until meat is browned and all pan juices evaporate. Remove skillet from heat; stir in sour cream, pickle relish, salt, dill weed, pepper, chopped egg, and 1/4 cup water; set aside.

On floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll dough 1/8-inch thick. With floured 2-3/4 inch round cookie cutter, cut out 20 dough rounds. Repeat with remaining dough and trimmings to make about 50 dough rounds in all.

Onto half of each round, place one teaspoon of meat mixture. In cup, with fork, beat remaining egg; brush edges of dough round with some egg; fold dough over filling. With fork, firmly press edges together to seal; prick tops; and brush with the remaining egg. Arrange pastries on ungreased cookie sheet, about 1-inch apart. If not serving right away, cover with foil and refrigerate.

To serve, preheat oven to 425ºF. Bake pastries 10 minutes or until golden. Makes about 50 pastries.

Pastries can be frozen for up to one month. Place unbaked pastries in freezer container with waxed paper between each layer; seal; label; and freeze. About 25 minutes before serving, preheat oven to 425ºF. Arrange frozen pastries on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes or until pastries are golden.

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