Apple Dumplings with a Sweet Brown Sugar Sauce

It's that time of year again where Fall foods are being made in our home. When I think about my favorite Fall dessert, it's a toss between apple dumplings and pumpkin roll. Today my daughter and I made apple dumplings, and since I love my readers so much I thought I'd share this awesome family recipe with you all! It's the best apple dumpling recipe ever, and it even has a special sauce that was my late grandma's recipe and it's super yummy!

First step is to make the sauce...

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

1 /2 cup water

1/4 tsp cinnamon

(for later-- 2 Tbl butter)

Directions:

Put brown sugar, water and cinnamon in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Turn down and simmer 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove and add 2 tablespoons of butter.

For the apple dumplings...

Ingredients: 

4 McIntosh apples

dash of cinnamon

dash of sugar

Dough:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup water

Directions:

Mix dough, then roll it out. Take a butter knife and evenly cut two lines (an X) into the dough to make 4 sections. Peel all 4 apples and de-core them (I cut them in half then de-core them). Place one apple in the middle of each dough section. Add a dash of sugar and cinnamon on each apple. Take the sides of one section and roll up the dough onto the apple-- do this for all four apples. Tightly close the dough making sure no apple is exposed and that there are no holes. Place all 4 apple dumplings in a baking pan, then add your brown sugar sauce, pouring them on top of apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes until golden brown. 

Here is what they should like before they go into the oven...

Since I was a little kid I have been enjoying this recipe of apple dumplings and I believe you will love it too! I like to eat mine in a bowl (warm) with some cold milk splashed on it.

Enjoy!

My Song, My Strength

Homemade Chicken & Dumplings #Recipe

I just love chicken & dumplings! The key to a good chicken & dumpling meal is the creamy mixture and dumplings. I got this awesome recipe from a family friend of my mom's and it is the best recipe I have found! Not the healthiest....this meal is about comfort and its yummy goodness! It's an easy meal to make and feeds a family of 4. If you have more than 4 members in your family I would add more chicken and an extra 1/2 of the dumpling mix--make sure you're using a big cooking pan!

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp. Shortening
4 Tbsp. Flour
1 Cup Chicken Broth
2 Cups Diced Cooked Chicken
1 Cup Milk
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp. Chopped Onions

Directions:
Melt shortening in a large cooking pan on stove: blend in flour, garlic powder and salt. Add milk and chicken stock. Cook over low heat until smooth and thick. Stir in onions and chicken; blend well. *An easy way to cook chicken is to cube it raw, then add your chicken to boiling water. Boil until no longer pink.

Dumplings:
1 Cup Flour
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/2 Cup Milk
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
2 Tbsp. Melted Shortening

Directions: 
Mix ingredients with shortening and milk; blend to moisten. Drop by teaspoon onto chicken; cover. Cook 15-20 minutes over low-medium heat.

I like to always serve this meal with a side of veggies, any vegetable really! You're gonna love the fluffiness of the dumplings, they're not doughy at all! Just and salt and pepper to taste! Enjoy!

My Song, My Strength