Cheesy Pretzel Dumplings Food

SLOW COOKER VEGETABLE STEW WITH CHEDDAR DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Set the slow cooker to low. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan and fry the carrots for 5 mins until just golden, then tip into the slow cooker.
• Heat the remaining oil in the pan and fry the leeks with a pinch of salt for 5 mins until soft. Add the garlic and stir in the flour. Gradually add the stock, stirring, until the flour has dissolved and there are no lumps. Bring to the boil, then tip into the slow cooker. Add the courgettes, beans and herbs, topping up with water to cover the veg, if needed. Cover and cook for 4 hrs.
• To make the dumplings, tip the flour into a bowl and stir in the suet or butter until evenly distributed. Add the cheese, parsley, ½ tsp cracked black pepper and a pinch of salt. Mix in 3-4 tbsp cold water with your hands to make a soft, slightly sticky dough (add a little more water if needed). Divide into six and roll into balls.
• Add the crème fraîche, mustard, broad beans or peas and spinach to the slow cooker and turn it to high. Arrange the dumplings over the stew, cover and cook for 1-2 hrs more until firm and doubled in size. Scatter with parsley and serve. Will keep for up to three days in the fridge or in the freezer for up to three months.

CHEDDAR CHEESE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Stir together flour and mustard in medium bowl. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in cheese. Add milk; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.
• Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto simmering stew. Cover; cook over medium-low heat 20 to 25 minutes or until dumplings are firm when pressed.

SHEPHERD'S STEW WITH DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground lamb, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a couple turns of pepper and cook, breaking up the meat a little, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon and reserve the pan drippings.
• Add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter to the pot. Stir in the carrots, onion and thyme and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring, until the flour is toasted, about 1 minute. Add the wine and simmer until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes.
• Return the meat to the pan, add the broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens and the meat is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the gnocchi and cook until warmed through, about 3 more minutes.
• Ladle the stew into bowls and sprinkle with the mint.

CHEESY PRETZELS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Grease cookie sheet. Mix all ingredients except egg and coarse salt in medium bowl with fork until soft dough forms. Smooth dough gently into ball on floured board. Knead 10 times. Divide dough in half.
• Roll half of dough into 12x8-inch rectangle. Cut rectangle lengthwise into eight 1-inch strips. Fold each strip lengthwise in half into 12x1/2-inch strip; pinch edges to seal. Twist each strip into pretzel shape. Place seam down on cookie sheet.
• Beat egg in small bowl with fork until blended. Brush pretzels with egg. Sprinkle lightly with coarse salt.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Repeat with remaining half of dough.

PRETZELS WITH CHEESE FILLING

Steps:

• In large bowl, stir flour, yeast, salt and sugar with whisk. Add 1 cup warm water; stir to combine, slowly adding additional water as necessary to make dough easy to handle.
• Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy. Grease large bowl with oil. Place dough bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray; let rise in warm place about 30 minutes or until doubled in size. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir together all of the filling ingredients.
• Heat oven to 425°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper. Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Place dough on lightly floured surface. Using floured rolling pin, roll to 16x12-inch rectangle. Using pizza cutter, cut dough crosswise into 8 (2- x 12-inch) strips. Spoon cheese mixture down center of each dough strip. Press dough over filling, pinching edges and ends to seal. Gently press or roll each rope to 15-inch length.
• To make pretzel shape, form each rope into U shape. Twist ends twice. Overlap twisted ends to form X shape; press together where dough touches. Pick ends up and place on rounded portion of U shape. Tuck one end under dough; place other end on top of dough.
• In medium microwavable bowl, microwave 2 cups water on High 2 minutes or until hot. Add baking soda; stir until dissolved. Dip each pretzel, one at a time, into water mixture. Immediately remove from water with large pancake turner; place on cooling rack. Let stand at room temperature, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir egg and 1 tablespoon water with fork. Brush pretzels with egg mixture; sprinkle with sea salt. Carefully transfer to cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on cooling rack, about 10 minutes. Serve warm or cool completely.