Nans Dumplings Recipes

WINTER BROTH WITH DUMPLINGS THE WAY MY NANA MAKES

Steps:

• In a very large pan, heat the oil or butter very gently.
• Over a low light, add the leeks, turnip, carrots and celery, toss around to coat in oil and then put on the lid.
• Shaking the pan at regular intervals, allow the vegetables to 'sweat' for about 10 minutes.
• Now add the rest of the vegetables, make the stock cubes up with the water and add this, along with the herbs and a touch of salt and pepper (you can taste and re-season later) Bring to the boil, replace the lid, and simmer for at least an hour to bring out the flavours of the vegetables.
• Add the barley or lentils after about 20 minutes cooking time.
• Meanwhile, make the dumpling mix by combining the dry ingredients and mixing to a soft but not sticky dough with cold water.
• Divide this into small pieces about the size of a golf ball and drop one by one into the simmering soup.
• Replace the lid and cook for 15-20 minutes, by which time the dumplings should have puffed up and become light and fluffy.
• Serve with lots of crusty bread and butter!

NANA'S SOUTHERN CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Boil 2-3 split chicken breasts in low-sodium chicken broth & water.
• While the chicken is boiling, lay out a large area of wax paper.
• Sift 3 cups of self-rising flour into a mixing bowl.
• Slowly pour 1 - 1/2 cups ice water into flour - roll into a dough ball. (If you have excess flour, use to coat wax paper.).
• Using a rolling pin, roll out dough to desired consistency. (I prefer thin dumplings, but you may create your dumplings in any consistency you like.).
• Cut rolled out dough with a knife or pizza cutter into small or medium squares.
• Check on your boiling chicken. Once the chicken breast separates, take the meat off the bone.
• Make sure broth is boiling and slowly place dumplings in with the chicken and broth. (Do not drop all dumplings in at once or they will stick together.).
• Season dumplings with salt and pepper to your liking. (I do not use salt since chicken broth is high in sodium, but lots of pepper really makes the dumplings taste good!).
• While the dumplings are finishing, prepare long-grain white rice using low-sodium chicken broth instead of water.

NANA'S APPLE DUMPLINGS WITH NUTMEG MILK

Steps:

• Mix syrup; boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add butter.
• Sift dry ingredients and cut in shortening until coarse crumbs. Add milk, all at once and stir until just moistened. Divide into 6 pieces and roll to 1/4" circle, each.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place a cored apple on each circle. Fill core with cinnamon sugar mix. Place pat of butter on top. Fold pastry up over apple and pinch to seal. Place in 9 x 13 pan 1" apart.
• Pour syrup over dumplings and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes.