Ch-Apple Dumplings

Even if I knew tomorrow the world would end I would still plant my apple tree- Martin Luther King Jr.


…because I could be wrong. I’m mostly an optimist but always a skeptic. Anyway. Thank goodness someone planted an apple tree in Jim Chapman’s yard about 150 years ago! Every year Jim's tree produces a plethora of apples that he and his sisters, CJ and Barbara, process. Peeling, slicing, laughing, teasing, packaging, making applesauce. Best of all he ALWAYS shares with me sometimes even in the form of a pie! "Ch-apple pie” makes us very happy. The tree is known as the Isaac Roop tree. Did Isaac plant it? I have no idea but I bet if you ask Jim he’ll tell you.


             
That is done the third week of October then on Halloween Jim and Marilyn Sue open their home to friends, old and new, for tacos made on the wood stove and the most heavenly dish called Quick Apple Dumplings! The first time I had this sumptuous dessert it was made by Cindy O'Rorke but Chapman can’t remember if the recipe was originally Cindy’s or Susan Osgood's. Either way I love it! The recipe states it serves 8, you can easily get 16 out of it, it’s SuPeR rich! It’s not made with Isaac Roop apples but it’s a nice story to lead in :) ~                                                            

Quick Apple Dumplings
2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and quartered
1 pkg refrigerated Pillsbury crescent roll dough, unrolled and separated
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter (Jim’s fave is Tillamook)
1 cup sugar
1 cup orange juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup very finely chopped pecans
                                

Preheat oven to 350*. Grease, butter or spray a 8” square baking dish. Wrap each apple quarter in a crescent roll. Place in pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Combine butter, sugar and orange juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over dumplings. Sprinkle pecans over top. Bake 30 minutes until golden brown. Jim puts this in the oven while we eat our tacos so we can enjoy it warm. I gotta try it with ice cream!
                        

Thanks Jimmy for another Hometown simple-icious recipe!