An Apple A Day.................Makes a very good dumpling!

When the weather is cold outside, there is nothing better than comfort food. One of those comfort foods would be apple dumplings. We had a little lady friend that made THE Best apple dumplings imaginable.  And she made them all the time. They were so good, that my children instantly associate Apple Dumplings with her. That little lady friend passed away this past summer, so I finally was brave enough to make apple dumplings of my own. With that in mind, I chose a quick and easy recipe and decided to make these the best I could in the quickest and easiest way possible. I know they will never live up to the apple dumplings that Mrs. O'Kief generously gave to us, but it is a recipe worth sharing.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups water

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, divided

1/4 cup butter or margarine

2/3 cup sugar

 

2 (15-ounce) packages refrigerated piecrusts

8 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, cut up

Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Preparation:

Bring 1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly; reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in 1/4 cup butter. Set syrup aside.

Combine 2/3 cup sugar, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.

 

Cut piecrusts in half, and roll into 8-inch circles. Place 1 apple in center of each circle. Sprinkle each evenly with sugar mixture; dot evenly with 3 tablespoons butter.

Honestly, the recipe does not call for it, but I like to fill the core of the apple up with the sugar mixture as well.

 

Fold dough over apples, pinching to seal. Place in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Drizzle with syrup.

Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Serve these up on a cold winter afternoon and ENJOY!