Cream Cheese Kolacky

This Historic Recipe, Cream Cheese Kolacky by Ella (Marko) Belak, comes to us from “Canadian Slovak Recipes” from the Alvinston Slovak Cultural Hall - 1980.

Gabriella Marko “Ella” was born in Oponice, Czecho-Slovakia to parents Rudolf and Veronica (Bubak) Marko. She was the oldest child of five siblings:

Rudolph Marko: 1921 - 2004 (wife - Ann Podolinsky: 1926 -2022)
Elizabeth Teresa “Elsie” Marko: 1927 – 2007 (husband James “Stewart” Coad: 1920 – 2001)
Annie Marko: 1930 – 2014 (husband Daniel J. “Dan” Dymock: 1919 – 1980)
Margaret Marko: 1934 – 2015
Julia Marko: 1935 -2013 (husband Robert McDonald: 1935 – 2011)

Ella arrived in Canada in 1929 she was nine years old.

On May 23, 1942 at the Catholic Church in Wardsville, Ontario, Ella married Martin Belak. Martin, who had immigrated from Nesto, Czecho-Slovakia, was the son of John and Catherine (Pitel) Belak.

Martin and Ella settled in Brooke Township where they raised their children, farmed, and lived out their lives. They were active members of the Slovak Community. They had a son Rudy (1944 – 2007) and a daughter (living).

Martin passed away at the age of 72 at the C.E.E. Petrolia hospital on Friday, May 11 1984. Ella was 74 years old when she passed away at the Sarnia General Hospital on Monday, July 5 1993. They, along with their son Rudy, were buried at St. Matthew’s Cemetery, Alvinston, Ontario.

Martin Belak to Ella Marko - Ontario Marriage Registration

Ingredients

11/3 cups butter or margarine
8 oz. cream cheese
2 2/3 cups all purpose flour

Nut Filling

I egg lightly beaten
2/3 cups sugar
11/2 tbsp. butter
3 tbsp. milk

Instructions

Mix all three ingredients together. Shape into ball, wrap well and refrigerate over night. In the morning cut off piece of dough, let stand at room temperature for a few minutes so it will roll easily. Roll thin, cut rounds, place some [nut] filling (below) on each round moisten edges with water or egg white. Fold over and seal. Bake at 375º F. till golden brown Roll in icing sugar.

Nut Filling

Use a heavy pot or keep at low heat because this burns easily. Combine altogether bring to boil, mixing constantly and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat add 1 heaping cup ground nuts and 1 tsp. vanilla. Cool and use in Kolacky or any yeast dough.