APPLE PECAN DUMPLINGS WITH ORANGE SAUCE

Apple Pecan Dumplings with Orange Sauce image

Provided by Heather Hacker

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 oranges
1/2 c light brown sugar packed
3/4 c sugar divided
2 Tbsp broken pecans
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 medium cooking apples
2-3 Tbsp cold margarine
1 Tbsp all purpose flour
3 c all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 c cold lard or shortening
7-8 Tbsp ice water or cold club soda or lemon lime soda

Steps:

1. To make shells combine the 3 cups of flour and salt. Cut in lard or shortening to make a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp of cold soda, tossing with a fork to mix. Repeat until flour is moistened and can be pressed into a ball. Wrap ball in plastic wrap and let sit for 5 minutes.
2. Grate 2 tbsp orange peel. Squeeze orange juice and measure and add water to make 1 cup. In a saucepan, mix 1/2 cup of each sugar (brown and white) with the other Tbsp of flour. Add Grated orange peel and juice. Cook and stir until mixture thickens and clears. About 3 minutes
3. Pare, core and cut apples into 3 horizontal slices. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Cut cold butter into 6 pieces.
4. Roll pastry to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 6 seven inch squares. Place 1 apple slice on each. Sprinkle 1 tsp. cinnamon sugar on each. Top with 2nd apple slice. Press 1 piece butter into center of apples. Sprinkle again with cinnamon sugar.
5. Brush pastry edges with water. Wrap around apples and pinch to seal. Place dumplings in a 9x13 baking dish. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325.
6. Spoon some of the orange sauce over dumplings. Bake 10 minutes. Spoon over more sauce. Bake 10 minutes. Repeat sprinkling with pecans. Bake an additional 15 minutes