Grandmother Nellys Ham Peas And Dumplings Old Food

OLD-FASHIONED SOUTHERN PEACHES & DUMPLINGS? RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Measure the flour and shortening into a large mixing bowl and place bowl in the freezer until needed. Set a colander in a large pot or Dutch oven and add the peaches to the colander, straining the liquid into the pot. Set peaches aside for now. To the pot of liquid, whisk in the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, water, lemon juice, and butter cubes. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; then reduce heat to medium and cook for about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, make the Dumplings: Remove bowl from freezer and cut the shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter until you get a mealy consistency (fine crumbs). Gradually, drizzle in ice water while stirring, just enough for the dough to come together and form a ball. Divide the dough into 2 pieces. After the peach liquid has boiled for 25 minutes, add the peaches to it and bring back to a boil over medium-high heat. When boiling, reduce heat to medium and let cook until the dumplings are ready to drop. On a floured surface, roll out one of the balls of dough to about 1/8-inch thick. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into long strips about 1 1/2-inch wide; then cut each strip crosswise into 1 1/2-inch squares. Repeat steps for the other ball of dough. Start dropping the dumplings into the boiling peaches and syrup; gently pushing them down into syrup with the back of a spoon. When all the dumplings have been added, let cook for about 25 minutes, frequently pushing dumplings down into the syrup. When done, the dumplings should look somewhat translucent and the syrup is thickened. Serve warm or cold with whipping cream or chilled evaporated milk poured over it, topped with prepared whipped cream (or Cool Whip), or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. NOTE: If your dumplings are a bit thick, you might need to cover the pot and cook for about 10 minutes, then finish cooking uncovered. I did not cover mine since I wanted the syrup to thicken more.

MAMA'S HAM DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Put the bones into a large stock pot and pour the cold water over them. Turn on the heat as low as you can get it and bring the water slowly to the boiling point, carefully skimming off the scum as it pops to the surface. It will take about 45 minutes.
• Add the onion, carrot, and peppercorns. Simmer slowly for at least 1 hour, 2 is better. Strain, discarding the solids, return the broth to the pot, bring it back to a boil, and reduce it to 1½ quarts (about half).
• Make the dumplings according to the recipe. Drop them a few at a time into the simmering broth and let them simmer for 5 minutes. Add a dusting of freshly milled pepper, stir in the ham and parsley (if using-my grandmother didn't), and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes more. Ladle onto a serving platter or individual soup plates, sprinkle with more parsley, and serve at once.
• Sift or whisk together the flour, soda, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl. Cut in the lard with a pastry blender until it resembles coarse corn meal.
• Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk or yogurt. Using a wooden spoon and as few strokes as possible, quickly stir the ingredients together.
• To shape flat dumplings (sometimes called "slipperies") like my grandmother's, turn the dough onto lightly flour a smooth work surface. Flour you hands and gently push it away from you to flatten. Fold it in half, gently press flat with the heel of your hand, and give it a quarter turn. Repeat this until just smooth, about 12 to 15 folds. Dust the work surface and the dough with more flour and roll it out to a thickness of 1/8-inch. Quickly cut into 1-inch strips, and then cut them into 2-inch lengths. Cook immediately.