Apple Dumpling "Blossoms"

We pick a lot of apples here the "Empire State" of New York. It's one of my most favorite things we do, and as I moved here from KY it became especially meaningful to me to have a new tradition 9 years ago that we still uphold now.

So, today I made my mom's homemade pie crust & turned some Empire apples into Apple Dumplings (or "Blossoms") as some people call them.

1. Start by rolling out your favorite pie crust. (I use my mom's recipe: 2c flour, 1/2tsp salt, 2/3c Crisco, 1/3c cold water).

2. Cut flattened dough into desired shape. (I like mine to be free-hand so the edges are all different when I shape them into dumplings, but you could cut with a large cookie cutter or make circles, etc).

3. Peel 2-3 large apples, dice. Mix in a bowl with 1/8c flour, pinch of salt, 1/8c sugar, desired amounts of cinnamon.

4. Scoop apple mixture onto the center of cut dough. Gather edges of dough up around the mounds of apples.

5. Bake at 425 degrees for approx 15 min or until apples are tender & crust is lightly browned on edges.

6. Enjoy with ice cream or whatever you like, I love mine with chai tea ;-)