What’s a pierogy? Where did they come from? What are they made of? And what are they stuffed with, anyway? Why is it spelled so weird? There are so many questions and all valid for those who are not familiar with Mrs. T’s Pierogies.
History of Pierogies
Some would argue that a pierogy is a dumpling, or a potsticker, or an empanada and others say that it is closer to a ravioli. But the truth is pierogies are truly unique and worthy of their individuality.
Pierogies originated in eastern Europe. But you don’t need European roots to love them. Pierogies are pasta pockets, semicircle-shaped—like a smile stuffed with creamy whipped potatoes and delicious cheese. Pasta and potatoes, pretty much the perfect food combo (move over PB&J). They come in all kinds of varieties bursting with big, bold flavors perfect for family mealtime or anytime.
The History of Mrs. T’s
Mrs. T’s Pierogies is a story that started many years ago (1952 to be exact) in the Twardzik family kitchen, in the small town of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. The founder of Mrs. T’s, Ted Twardzik, loved his mother’s pierogies and had fond memories of enjoying them growing up. As an adult he recalled how people would stand in lines wrapped around local churches to purchase these delicious pockets of happiness.
Ted’s mom, Mary Twardzik, better known as Mrs. T, always enjoyed cooking for her family—and everyone loved her handmade pierogies. Ted was so inspired by how much everyone loved her delicious pierogies, he wanted to share the flavor and smiles his mom’s recipe brought to him, with others. And that’s how Mrs. T’s Pierogies got its start.
Pierogi or Pierogy?
Now, onto the toughest question of all…why do we spell it “pierogy”, when the rest of the world spells it “pierogi”? Looking back to the beginning, the word pierogi originated in Europe and it is the plural form of the word “pierog”.
“Pierogi” is the more common spelling. But at Mrs. T’s we spell it with a Y, as in Pierogy. We’re not trying to be different just for the sake of being different. But our pierogies are unique and different. You see, not only do we make pierogies the traditional way, but we also combine traditional with some non-traditional flavors such as jalapeño, special cheeses, broccoli and even bacon, to create a truly unique pierog-y experience.
In other words, we use the letter “Y” to say our pierogies are special. Because that’s the way we do everything here — a little different, a little more delicious, and a lot more fun! So, embrace the uniqueness and don’t get hung up on our special way of spelling it, let’s all just enjoy pierogies for the true comfort food they are. After all, pierogies just make you smile.
They’re delicious, easy to make and if they aren’t already, they’re sure to become a family favorite at your house.
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