January 3, 2012 – YA Chit Chat

I’m always looking for ways to get my kids to help me out around the house. Sometimes that means not just helping me with chores but with cooking, too. Thankfully, both of my boys (16 and 20 respectively) love helping me out in the kitchen, especially when there is food involved (when it’s cleanup time, however, that’s a different story all together). Typical young adults. 🙂

This year the treat to make was apple dumplings. I really love this German recipe and hope you will, too. If you have kids, grab them in the kitchen to help you make them. It’s a lot of fun and they are oh, so yummy (especially with a dab of ice cream at the end).

So, here’s the recipe:

1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 c water
1/4 c butter or margarine
2 1/4 c all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
2/3 c shortening
1/2 c milk
6 small apples, peeled and cored
1/3 c sugar

For Syrup:

In a saucepan combine 1 1/2 c sugar, 1/4 tsp of cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg and 2 c water. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and set aside.

Combine flour, baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Cut in shortening until it resembles course crumbs.

Add milk all at once; stir just until moistened. Form into a ball. On a floured surface, roll out into an 18×12 inch rectangle; cut into six 6-inch squares. Place an apple in center of each square. Sprinkle apple generously with a mixture of 1/3 c sugar and the remaining 1/4 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp nutmeg. Dot with butter. Moisten edges of dough, fold corners to center atop apple. Pinch the edges together. Place in a 13x9x2 baking dish. Pour syrup over dumplings. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 45 minutes or till apples are tender.