Sauteed Plums With Citrus Dumplings Recipes

PLUM DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• To pit the plums, slice them almost in half, open, and remove pit. Place about 1/3 teaspoon of sugar in the hollow of each plum; close the plum, and place in a bowl. Set aside.
• Place potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender. Drain. When cool enough to handle, mash potatoes with a fork or potato masher. You will need 1 cup of mashed potatoes. Set aside, and keep warm.
• To make the dough, sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together into a pile on a breadboard. Make a well in the center; add 1 cup mashed potatoes, egg yolks, and shortening into the well, and work in until the dough is pliable and smooth.
• When dough is thoroughly kneaded, roll it out onto a floured board to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Cut into roughly 4-inch rounds with a biscuit cutter. Holding one piece of dough in your hand, place a whole pitted plum in the center. Place another piece of dough on top, and press to seal the edges of the dough together. Make sure there are no leaks, or the plum will come out during cooking.
• To cook, bring a deep pot of salted water to boil. Place dumplings in water, and boil gently for about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, to make the sauce, melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar. (If you like, stir in some of the juice that collects in the bowl of pitted plums.) Stir in a small amount of bread crumbs to slightly thicken the sauce.
• When dumplings are done, remove them from boiling water, and place them in the frying pan, and turn to coat the dumplings. Serve hot with extra sauce poured over them.

SAUTEED PLUMS WITH CITRUS DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Grate zest and squeeze juice from lemon; set both aside. Cut plums in half and discard pits. Quarter each half lengthwise and place in a round 12-by-2-inch casserole or saute pan. Sprinkle plums with 4 tablespoons sugar and drizzle with lemon juice, kirsch, and 3 tablespoons water.
• Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until the plums begin to break down, about 15 minutes, depending on ripeness.
• Meanwhile, sift together the flour, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk in lemon and lime zests. Stir in the cream and buttermilk until just combined.
• Drop batter by heaping tablespoonsful over plums; there should be enough to make eight dumplings. Cover casserole (if casserole does not have a cover, use foil), reduce heat to low, and simmer until the dumplings are doubled in size and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover, and let cool on a wire rack for about 15 minutes. Serve warm.