Pierogi seems to be a general Slav thing

In the United States, the term Pierogi is commonly taken to mean Polish pierogi. The word pirog (or its equivalent in the various Slavic languages) means pie, which can take the form of a stuffed dumpling, pastry, or two-crusted pie. Varenyky or vareniki are boiled pierogi (from varyty, to boil) and are particularly Ukrainian. In Russian, pirogi is the plural form of the generic pirog, which usually refers to a large two-crusted pie and not a dumpling (pelmeni or vareniki) or filled bun (pirozhki).

In Russian cuisine, pirozhki (also piroshki, or Ukrainian pyrizhky) are small stuffed buns made of either yeast dough or short pastry. They are filled with one of many different fillings, and either baked or fried. The singular form is pirozhok, the diminutive form of the word pirog. The stress in pirozhki is properly placed on the last syllable: [piroʒˈki].

In Hungarian cuisine, the pierogi is used as primarily as a feasting food for special occasions such as weddings. It was brought to Hungary by the merchant Andras Perl, for his wedding with his wife Katalin in 1764. The Banki family, home to Katalin, usually renowned for its ferocity in battle, was so moved by the pierogi, that now, the pierogi is common to most Hungarian weddings.

I thought that pirogies were polish?

I'm pretty sure that's a dish that crosses over between the two. I think the fillings/seasonings may differ between the countries though. There might also be another name for the Russian version I'm memfaulting on.

I do know (thank you Alton Brown) that while Chicken Kiev is mighty tasty, it's not really Russian (though it does turn up on the menu in Russian resturaunts).

Poaao pancakes are a Russian thing, right? Also blini (Russian crepes--yummy)

Chicken Kiev is MIGHTY tasty. It's some of the best chicken I've ever had. I had it on a cruise.

There might also be another name for the Russian version I'm memfaulting on.

I know Ukranians call them "vereniki"

Thanks all. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Mmmm....pierogies....God's little carb bomb.

Mmmm....pierogies....God's little carb bomb.

Word. I'm seriously jonesing for some potato-and-cheese ones right now.

So are knishes strictly a Jewish version, then? Becuase I always think of those in the same category.

Aaaand now I want carbs. Damn you!

shakes tiny fist

This all sounds a little too too, but I know people here know what I mean. Buffy did change the way I watch TV, and the way I view and use the internet. It changed the way I write. It changed the way I speak. It brought people into my life I never would have known about. I don't think it changed any of my core values, but I think it made me pay attention to things that might have otherwise passed unnoticed, and helped me to pay attention to the way that I think (both about fiction, and about reality).

Yes. This. Hell yes. It hasn't influenced my value system, or changed my philosophy of life, but it has had one hell of an impact on how I interpret and engage with popular culture, and how I use the internet. Before BtVS, I was fannish, but I was not part of fandom. Now I'm very much immersed in fandom - in numerous interlocking fandoms, in fact. And, yes - everything you said, in fact.