Tasty Tuesday: Old-fashioned Apple Dumplings

Fall just calls for apple desserts. And this fall-like weather we've been having put me in the mood for apple dumplings. I have wonderful memories of my mom making these when I was growing up. They were always so good and since she didn't make them often, a special treat.

Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings

6 medium apples, pealed and cored (leave whole)
2 c. flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. shortening
1/2 milk
sugar and cinnamon

Sauce:
2 c. brown sugar*
2 c. water
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. butter

Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Cut in shortening until crumbly. Add milk, press together lightly, working dough only enough to hold together.

Roll dough out on floured surface into a 12x18 rectangle 1/8 to 1/4 in. thick. Cut into six 6-inch squares. Place whole apple on each square. Fill cavity of each apple with 1 tbsp. sugar then sprinkle generously with cinnamon. Fold edges of square towards the center and pinch edges together, covering completely. Place dumplings 1 inch apart in a greased baking dish.

Make sauce by combining brown sugar, water and spices. Cook for 5 minutes, remove from heat and add butter. Pour over dumplings.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Baste occasionally during baking. Serve warm with milk or ice cream

Variation: Roll dough into rectangle 1/4 in. thick. Spread with sliced apples. Sprinkle with 1/2 c. brown sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Roll up like a jelly roll and cut into 1 1/4 in. slices. Place in pan, pour syrup over and bake.

*These are plenty sweet. You may find you like a ration of 1 1/2 c. water and 1 1/2. c. sugar better.

For other great recipe ideas, check out Balancing Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday, Blessed with Grace's Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, and All the Small Stuff's Tuesday's at the Table.