3 large Pink Pearl or Granny Smith apples

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 

Preheat oven to 425f. Peel, core, and cut apples in half, set aside. In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Prepare Syrup; keep warm until ready to use. Prepare Party Pastry. In the center of each pastry square, place an apple half and sprinkle a little of the sugar/cinnamon mixture over the top of the apple. Moisten the points of each pastry square, bring opposite points over the apple halves (overlapping points), and seal well. Place each dumpling about 2-inches apart in an 8- by 12-inch baking dish. Pour prepared hot syrup around the dumplings, and bake approximately 30 minutes. Remove from oven and, using a spatula, quickly life each dumplings into individual serving bowls.

 

Pastry:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup vegetable shortening

1 egg yolk

2 tablespoons water

2 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice

Sift together flour and salt. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender. First cutting in 1/2 of the shortening until mixture looks like "meal," then cutting in the remaining shortening until particles are the size of giant peas. In a small bowl, mix together egg yolk, water, and lemon juice. Sprinkle over the flour/shortening mixture. Mix in with a fork until dough stays together. Gather dough up into a large ball (if desired, divide dough into 2 or 3 parts to make it easier to handle.) roll dough 1/8-inch thick on a lightly floured boards. Cut into six (6-inch) pastry squares.

 

Syrup:

1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup corn syrup 2 tablespoon butter 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup water In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, cinnamon, and water. Bring to a boil and let boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm until ready to use.