For The Apple Dumpling Gang

This recipe is for those who love apple dumplings. They're definitely a favorite of mine. As children apples were the one thing that were plentiful around our house, and apple dumplings was an easy economical dessert to prepare. It's also a great recipe to allow the children to help prepare, thus giving them hands on experience, and time spent with you as a family. Syrup Ingredients needed: 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg, 2 cups of hot water, 2 cups of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/4 cup of margarine or butter, melted. Dumpling Ingredients needed: butter, cut into small pieces, nutmeg, 1/2 cup of sugar, cinnamon, 1/2 cup of milk, 4 to 6 cooking apples, cored, peeled, and sliced, 3/4 cup of shortening, 2 tsp. of baking powder, 1 tsp. of salt, 2 to 2 1/2 cups of flour. Preparations as follows: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slightly grease a shallow baking dish. Combine baking powder, salt, and flour; cut in shortening with a fork, until mixture is fine and crumbly. Add milk, stirring to form a soft dough. Roll dough 1/8 inch thick onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into 5 inch squares. Place 3 to 4 pieces of apple per square. Sprinkle each with 1-2 tsp. of sugar and nutmeg plus cinnamon to taste. Dot with butter slices. Moisten edges of dumpling squares with water, bringing together corners to center, pinching together to seal dough. Place each square dumpling 1 inch apart, onto prepared slightly greased shallow baking dish. Combine 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 cups sugar, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, 1/4 cup butter or margarine, and 2 cups of hot water; stir to dissolve sugar. Drizzle syrup over dumplings. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Delicious served hot with ice cream. Makes approximately 1 dozen apple dumplings. Enjoy.