Country Apple Dumplings

Country Apple Dumplings with Burnt Sugar Bourbon Ice Cream

Peel 2 Granny Smith  apples and cut each into 8 slices.  Roll in  crescent roll dough beginning with the small end.
Place in a  greased 9 by 13 inch baking dish.

 Melt 1 cup butter and mix in 1 and  1/2 c. sugar and 1 t. cinnamon.  Pour over dumplings.

Pour 12 oz. bottle of Mountain Dew over the dumplings.

Dumplings with Mountain Dew poured over top

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes at 350 degrees or until browned and crisp on top.

Enjoy!

Sometimes you hear about a crazy recipe and  just have to try it yourself.  Can something so simple really be so good??? Yes it can.  I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com  while searching for something else and was fascinated.  I read the comments - 1651 and it was rated  5 stars with glowing recommendations - so I bought my first bottle of Mountain Dew since probably 1972, 2 packages of cresent rolls, 2 Granny Smith apples  and went home to prepare this crazy concoction.  After reading the reviews, I decided to cut the calories by using diet Mountain Dew and replacing half the sugar with Splenda.  The dumplings were crisp and brown on the top and gooey on the bottom- just like granny's dumplings. I had purchased a pint of High Road's Burnt Sugar Bourbon ice cream for this little experiment and it added the "upscale gourmet" taste to this quirky dish.  It's definitely a keeper if you like family style comfort food. I would even say you could cut back the sugar to 1 cup and it would still be sweet enough.   I'll rate it 5 stars too!  Maybe I'll try peach dumplings next???? We will be joining www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com for Foodie Friday. Join us and find some inspiration for a new dish.

Lake Bluff Fourth of July - The Food, The Parade, The Beach

The Menu

French Fry Bag stamped with Fleur de Lis - used to serve Ham Sliders

Watermelon with Peach Balsamic Vinegar Reduction, Feta and Mint

Vintage Blue and White

Smoked Salmon, Dill and Potato Tart

Berry Shortcake

Jill's Dipped Strawberries in White Chocolate and Citrus Peel - so good!

Crisp Summer Rose served in vintage eagle glasses- so 4th of July!

Lake Bluff Historical Society  with our very own Penny!

Love this one- Lake Bluff Lawn Mower Drill Team

Penney holding her 1882 Birth of the National Prohibition Party in Lake Bluff sign!

Lots of sail boats in the horizon

Laurell, Katha, Christy and Mr. RTH at the beach - 105 degrees and the water felt good!

Lake Bluff Beach

A hot, hot, hot day in Lake Bluff,  but you felt guilty staying inside in the air conditioning.  We had an early brunch for those who wanted to go the annual Lake Bluff parade and cooked hamburgers for the later crowd.  So it was brunch, the parade, going to the lake, cooking hamburgers and enjoying dessert. And just as the day was ending about 5 o'clock , the transformer by our house blew up  and we were without electricity! So to cool off,  we spent the fourth of July night with our feet in cold water foot baths, sitting on the front porch, just like our ancestors did on the Fourth of July probably 100 years ago.!

Roasted Beet and Peach Salad

My son Tyler came out for dinner on Sunday. He had given me an assortment of flavored balsamic vinegars and olive oils from Old Town Oils in Chicago. Having fresh beets, peaches and blackberries from the Lake Bluff Farmers Market, we decided to create a salad using all the ingredients. We measured a cup of the peach balsamic vinegar and poured it into a saucepan and brought it to a simmer. Watching it closely, we reduced the vinegar by a third and it turned into a delightful sweet and tart sauce by whisking in about a half cup of orange flavored olive oil. Over a bed of artisan lettuces from Costco, we tossed sliced roasted beets ( see our post on July 29th for an easy way to do this), peach slices, blackberries and bits of a delicious mild soft blue cheese. Then we drizzled the peach balsamic reduction over the beets and fruit and garnished with nasturtiums and violas from our herb garden. It was delicious! Be sure to visit http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/ for other delicious recipes.

Paris comes to Chicago

On Friday, Julie A. and I went to the new Chicago French Marketplace. We wanted to explore ideas for an upcoming bridal shower that we are having this weekend. In general, the market was lively, in particular, Pastoral Artisan Cheeses. They were making delectable sandwiches, in unusual combinations- figs, blue cheese and prosciutto on french baguettes - over 20 different sandwich combinations to choose from. We purchased fresh goat cheese from them - from a farm in southern Illinois. We will use it in a lemon infused goat cheese appetizer for the shower. Bread artisans were abundant, and the bread was truly works of art. A cinnamon apple focaccia went home with Julie. Supposedly she was giving it to her mother in law - but I wonder if that happened?????? Pastries from the Vanille Patisserie went home with me, and I can tell you that I did not give them to anyone. The beautiful confections were devoured by my family that night and they were divine. However, I did purchase exquisite handmade truffles from Canady Le Chocolatier for the shower. Metallic coatings, lavender and white chocolate, and beautiful rose shapes- I just hope that they make it to Sunday - I've seen my son peaking in those boxes several times!