Mama Roses Apple Dumplings Food

GREAT AUNT INA'S APPLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Pastry: In a large mixing bowl, sift flour and salt together. Cut in shortening with a pastry cutter or two knives in opposite directions until pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of water over mixture and gently toss with a fork. Repeat with more water until mixture is all moistened. Form into a ball. Flatten pastry dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll out to a little less than 1/8-inch thick and cut into 7-inch squares.
• Syrup: Prepare the syrup by bringing 2 cups water, 1 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons butter and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium-low heat and let simmer until reduced to a thick enough syrup to lightly coat the back of a spoon.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter a large rimmed baking dish and set aside.
• Apples: Peel and core an apple for each pastry square you have. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon.
• Place an apple in the middle of one of the square pastries. Fill the core cavity of the apple with some of the cinnamon sugar mixture and dot with a tablespoon of butter. Bring opposite points of pastry up over the apple. Overlap, moisten with water and seal. Carefully lift the pastry-wrapped apple and place it in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining apples, pastry squares, cinnamon sugar mixture and butter.
• Pour hot syrup evenly over the tops and around the dumplings.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the crust on each dumpling is golden brown and apples are cooked all the way through. You can test the apples by poking them with a fork or skewer.
• Serve warm with the hot syrup that's in the bottom of the baking dish and ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

APPLE DUMPLING PUDDLE PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a pan with 100ml water. Bring to a simmer, add the apples and cook for 10-15 mins until they're starting to soften - it will be quite saucy. Add a generous pinch of salt, taste and check the balance, adding more if you like. If your pan isn't ovenproof, pour into a baking dish about 20 x 30cm, or two smaller ones.
• Tip the flour into a bowl. Mix with the baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Rub the butter into the mixture with your fingertips until it resembles damp sand. Add the milk, stir with a cutlery knife until it starts to clump together, then use your hands to bring the dough together, picking up any flaky bits. Don't overwork it or your dumplings will be heavy. Divide into 12 golf ball-sized pieces and roll into dumplings. Arrange over the apples, leaving little gaps here and there. Sprinkle with a little extra sugar (brown or caster) and bake for 25 mins until the dumplings are puffed up and golden. Let rest for a few mins and serve with plenty of cold cream.

MOM'S APPLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For syrup, in a small saucepan, bring the water, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat; add butter and food coloring if desired. Stir until butter is melted; set aside. , For dumplings, in a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add milk, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. , On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 18x12-in. rectangle. Cut into six squares. Place an apple in the center of each square. , Combine 2 teaspoons sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg; sprinkle over apples. Dot with butter. Bring up corners of pastry to center; pinch edges to seal. , Place in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Pour syrup over dumplings; sprinkle with remaining sugar. , Bake at 375° for 35 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and apples are tender. Serve warm with cream.