Kathy Kramer has lived south of Lonsdale for more than 40 years, and she’s never eaten a Czech dumpling.
“Nope, never had one. I’m Swedish and German, and I’ve never had those dumplings either,” she said with a laugh.
Along with more than 30 other people from around the area, Kramer’s hands were deep in dumpling dough when the Czech Heritage Club hosted a free potato dumpling-making demonstration on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at Revival on Main in Montgomery.
Montgomery resident Carol Kotasek instructed Kramer and others how to make dumplings the traditional way – with their hands. Participants only needed to bring a large bowl, plastic gloves, if desired, a kitchen towel, and the desire to make the Czech treat. The measured flour and mashed potatoes (equal parts) were provided by the Club.
She told them to add four cups of mashed potatoes to three and a half cups of flour (reserving more for later) and mix with their hands.
“The dough should be ‘not too soft, not too stiff’,” she stated in her instructions. “Shape into size desired. Drop into boiling water and boil for approximately 25 to 30 minutes.”
Since the event was free and open to the public, the Club and Kotasek didn’t know the exact number of bagged ingredients to prepare. Kotasek said the residents at Golden Homes peeled 90 pounds of potatoes, which she then boiled and mashed.
“We planned for anywhere between five and thirty,” she said.
Miss Czech Slovak MN royalty also helped measure and bag the ingredients, and assist at the event she added.
The free dumpling class was made possible by a grant of more than $1,100 from the Government of the Czech Republic to the Czech Heritage Club for projects that enhance and support Czech traditional cultural and educational activities.
At the end of the evening when her dough was finished, Kramer took her bowl of dumplings and...
To see more on this story pick up the June 17, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger or The New Prague Times.
Dumpling class teaches how to make the Czech treat
