Apple Dumplings

I have strong memories tied to apple dumplings. When we were little we would always go to this little bakery up in Canada when we were visiting my grandparents. They had the best apple dumplings. After a couple years, they told us they cooked the dumplings with lard (…we’re vegetarian) and we never ate them again. :( So sad. But, these are pig free! I can enjoy as many as I want…

Ingredients

• SYRUP
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 6 drops red food coloring
• 3 tablespoons butter
• PASTRY
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup milk
• APPLES
• 6 apples, peeled and cored
• 6 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 6 tablespoons butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, water, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg and food coloring. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and stir in 3 tablespoons butter. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening, using knives or pastry blender, until mixture resembles 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.
4. Place a whole, peeled and cored apple in the center of each pastry square. Dust each apple with a mixture of the of sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Dot with a tablespoon of butter. Moisten the edges of the pastry square, bring the corners together at the top of the apple, and press edges together to seal. Place dumplings 1 inch apart on a baking sheet.
5. Pour the syrup over the dumplings and sprinkle with additional sugar, if desired.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, until apples are tender.

The Blind Side

Tonight we went to the theater and saw The Blind Side…and I thought it was a beautiful film and a heartbreaking story. Because its based on a true story, it is even more powerful. The cast was well-chosen, and I thought Sandra Bullock gave one of her best performances.

I was somewhat skeptical about the quality of this film, just because it was flashing thoughts of “Remember the Titans, We are Marshall, Radio, etc.” across my brain. I mean, you can only take so many football stories. But because this ACTUALLY happened, it is amazing. You know, you always hope that if something happened to you like this (i.e. meeting a kid who had no family, no place to live, no money, etc.) you would do the right thing and give him a home. But people only imagine they’ll be that generous….but they never are. The fact that this family took in someone who enriched and changed their lives is amazing and it makes me want to be that giving.

It was really wonderful to see the real clips of Michael Oher at the end of the movie. He plays for the Ravens currently, so now I have some motivation to watch their games just so I can see how he plays.

Go see it. It’s amazing…

“The more grateful you are, the more you get to be grateful about. It’s that simple.”
—-Louise Hay

Farmhouse Apple Pie

Serve this next Thursday with luscious vanilla ice cream, or slice of cheese (for those that love that type of thing), or let it stand on its two feet with its delciousness. It’s perfect for the Thanksgiving meal. And it isn’t too hard to make…

• 2 disks Grandma’s Pie Dough here.
• 2 and 1/2 pounds of mixed apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 3/4 inch pieces.
• 2 tbsp flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbs sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Roll out one of the disks of dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness; transfer to a 9-inch pie pan. Set aside and keep chilled.
3. Roll the remaining dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Set aside on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and keep chilled.
4. Toss the chopped apples, flour, 3/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice together and mix until combined. Pour apple mixture into the prepared pie pan and top with the remaining dough.
5. Trim, leaving 1/2-inch overhang, fold under, and crimp edges. Sprinkle the top with the remaining tablespoon of sugar; chill for 10 minutes.
6. Bake until fruit is bubbling and crust is golden brown — 50 to 55 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Someday, I want this to be my home office. I’m addicted to Pottery Barn. I’m not gonna lie.

Here.