Apple Dumplings

Ingredients Needed:

1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, water, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and stir in 3 tablespoons butter.

Set aside.

2-1/2-Quart Shallow Saucepan w/ Lid

This pan is great when it comes time to making the syrup for my apple dumplings. The nonstick surface is exactly that: nonstick. The pot's handle is not only beautiful, but stays cool during the cooking process.

It is much lighter in weight than traditional anodized pots I've used in the past, which I appreciate because of my CMT.

  Pastry Dough

  2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
  2 teaspoons baking powder
  1 teaspoon salt

 2/3 cup shortening
 1/2 cup milk
 

  In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
  Cut in shortening, using knives or pastry blender
  Mixture should resemble coarse crumbs.
  Pour in milk, all at once, and stir to form a dough.
  On a floured surface, roll dough into a 1/4 inch thick, 12x18 rectangle.
  Cut into 6 - 6 inch squares.

Oxo Good Grips Dough Blender with Blades

This product works great!

After using knives/forks to cut in butter, I finally got frustrated and got one of these. What a huge difference it makes when making my pastry dough!

Ingredients:

6 apples, peeled and cored
6 tablespoons butter

In a bowl, mix together:

6 teaspoons white sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

Back To Basics Apple Peeler

I've been peeling, coring, and slicing apples by hand for years, but this takes all the hard work out of my favorite desserts.

In seconds, the apple is all clean and ready for the next step in the process.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2. Place a whole, peeled and cored apple in the center of each pastry square.

3. Dust each apple with a mixture of the of sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.

4. Dot with a tablespoon of butter.

5. Moisten the edges of the pastry square, bring the corners together at the top of the apple, and press edges together to seal.

6. Place dumplings 1 inch apart on a baking sheet.

7. Bake for 35 minutes, or until apples are tender.

8. Drizzle syrup over apple dumplings and serve.