Monday, December 12, 2011

Imaginary Garden & dVerse - Open Link Night "Homemade Apple Dumpling" & 1796 Apple Dumpling Recipe


Homemade Apple Dumplings

Pudgy and warm
love lies in my hand
rolled, rounded, and
buttery sweet.

Above the serving tray
I loiter and hover,
inhaling an indulgence

as sprinkled cinnamon
teases my tongue. I ponder
the well known etiquette:

Politness dictates
I only take one...

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, December 12, 2011

* * * * *

Linked to "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads" - "Open Link Night" and to "dVerse's" Open Link Night #22.

My daughters and I returned to Old Salem, NC this past Saturday.  This week I will be sharing photos from that day trip and evening lighting of the Christmas "tree".  I am linking the above photo to "Creative Exchange".

The recipe below is from "The Art of Cooking Made Plain and Easy" Hannah Glasse, 1796

To Make Apple Dumplings:


Make a good puff-paste (*), pare some large apples, cut them in quarters, and take out the cores very nicely; take a piece of crust, and roll it round each apple, and make them round like a ball, with a little flour in your hand; have a pot of water boiling, take a clean cloth (**), dip it in the water and shake flour all over it; tie each dumpling by itself, and put them in the water boiling, which keep boiling all the time; and if your curst is light and good, and the apples be large, they will take an hours's boiling; when they are enough, take them up and lay them in a dish; throw fine sugar all over them, and send them to table, have good fresh butter melted in a cup, and fine beaten sugar in a saucer.


*  Puff-Paste - Old Elizabethan Dessert Recipe:  


Take fine Flour half a Peck, the Yolks of five Eggs and one White, one Pound of Butter, half a pint of Cream and a little fair water, break your Butter in little Bits and do not mould it too much, but roul it aboard so soon as you can, and let the Butter be seen in spots, for that will make it hollow when it comes into the Oven, then put in your Meat or Fruit, and close it over, and wash it over with the Yolk of an Egg and Cream Beaten together, just when you set it into the Oven; let your Oven be quick, but do not let it stand too long, for that will spoil it.


** Instructions for boiling dumplings:


In boiled dumplings, take great care the bag or cloth be very clean, not soapy, but dipped in hot water, and well floured.  Make sure the water is boiling and move the dumplings in the pot now and then.

* * * * *

Don't you love the measurements (or lack thereof!) and the vague temperature, and that some knowledge of cooking is assumed in these old recipes.

I can't tell you how wonderful these dumplings smelled!  My girls and I are going to try these - but in our oven at home.  Can you even imagine cooking in that fireplace?


27 comments:

ann @ studiohyde said...

Oh Apple Dumplings, they look delicious...yum.

Michelle said...

I love the sound of this..I am doing our family history and have come across some old recipes....

Lisa Gordon said...

Margaret, I have not had apple dumplings in ages, and these look so yummy! I just may have to give these a try. I think they would be wonderful for Christmas morning!

Thank you so much for sharing the "how to" here, and also for sharing it with us at The Creative Exchange.

Have a wonderful evening!

lisa.

Kim, USA said...

My hubby asked me all the time to make apple dumplings and I don't know how. Thanks for the recipe I will try this one. ^_^

Margaret said...

I plan on trying this with my girls over the Christmas break... I hope they are as photo-worthy as these!

Anonymous said...

I'll do whatever you want.
As long as you don't make me dress like that. ~Mary

Christine said...

we have an old book published in the 20's on how to do anything in a household, from stitching a wound, to making the perfect meringue, the directions of the puff pastry reminds me of the book, those apple dumplings look amazing, wish I could smell them

Margaret said...

Christine - I have an old book like that too! It is funny, though, how many of the directions ASSUME a working knowledge of such things...

Mary - Oh, that's funny! And I agree :)

Fireblossom said...

Oh, what restraint you have! ;-)

Anonymous said...

MmmMmm! I can practically smell them, and I could never take just one...

Anonymous said...

yum yum

Sheila said...

yummy!

Pat said...

Delicious post - photo and poem!

Kerry O'Connor said...

A poem and a recipe! Who could ask for more?
Thank you for sharing on Real Toads.

Jinksy said...

Set's the taste buds tingling! Thank you!

kaykuala said...

Margaret,
Yummy, yummy! I've visited your horse themed art blog. It's fantastic! You touched charcoal more often. But you followed with coloring them too!

Hank

Laurie Kolp said...

Only one? You have some willpower... and I love the picture and info. Can't wait to see what else you brought back from your trip.

Other Mary said...

'Pudgie and warm/ love lies in my hand' That's a great opening line! Yup. I really like that you included the recipe too!

Scarlet said...

Mmmm delicious post and picture...thanks for sharing the recipe too ~

Mark Butkus said...

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!
Happy Holidays!
Mark Butkus

Brian Miller said...

haha you are a lot more polite than i am...smiles...how could i settle for just one?

Ann Grenier said...

Oh my, cream and butter, the things I love that make me into a puff pastry as well. Good poem, Margaret:-)

RMP said...

I do believe I have ever had an apple dumpling...though your words tickle my tastebuds...oh and that picture...they do look quite tasty.

Unknown said...

only one?! yummy words in what you have obviously enjoyed making and partaking!

Mary said...

Your words, accompanied by your picture make me REALLY yearn for an apple dumpling! Nicely written. (visiting from both Real Toads and dVerse)

Margaret said...

Thank you, but I haven't eaten one of these apple dumplings yet. The historic living museum made these in their kitchen, but didn't sell them! Believe me, I was tempted to do the "Oh, look over there" game and swipe one and RUN! No, we will be attempting to make our own over the Christmas break.

Victoria said...

Oh, wow. Now I'm hungry. These look incredible. Thanks for the recipes.