Enjoying a rainy Saturday afternoon, watching Cadfael with my hubby, and eating Apple Dumplings German Style from  "Sacred Feasts:  From a Monastery Kitchen" - a perfect combo!

Apple Dumplings German Style

6 servings (our family found it to be closer to 10 very generous servings, especially when we included vanilla ice cream)

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup shortening

1/2 cup milk

7 tart apples, peeled

1/2 tsp cinnamon

dash of nutmeg

3/4 cup brown sugar

6 TBSP butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 cups sugar

2 TBSP calvados liqueur (optional)

6 TBSP butter

1)  In a deep bowl mix and sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and shortening.  Work mixture lightly with your fingertips.

2)  Make a hole in the mixture's center and gradually add milk.  Stir and  mix.  Knead lightly into a ball, then roll into a rectangular-shaped piece of dough about 1/4-inch thick.  Cut dough into 6 pieces.

3)  Slice apples and divide among the six squares of dough  Mix cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar.  Add to apples.

4)  Dot each square with 1 tablespoon of butter.  Gather corners of each piece of dough.  Pinch corners together to form a dumpling.

5)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix brown sugar, white sugar, water, calvados, and butter to make a syrup over low-medium heat.  Mix and blend well.  Butter a long baking dish.  Carefully place dumplings in it, pour syrup evenly over the top, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until dumplings are done.  Serve hot.