How to Make Blackberry Dumplings

The Blackberry has been used for over two thousand years. Various peoples around the world have used them as medicine, protection in the form of hedges, and of course eating. The Greeks believed the blackberry relieved gout while the Romans preferred their blackberries in a tea that was thought to treat a variety of illnesses. Blackberries first started getting serious attention here in America starting in 1880 with a variety that came to be known as the Loganberry. Another variety named the Boysenberry was found on an abandoned farm by a member of the USDA named George Darrow. Gerorge Darrow's farm eventually became known as Knotts Berry Farm. I remember as a child sneaking into the shed and drinking some of my daddy's blackberry wine. Blackberries are used for many other foods other than wine however. Blackberry ice cream, pies, jellies, and jams are common. Blackberries are reasonably nutritious and contain anti-oxidants as well as many vitamins and a few minerals.

If this recipe does not appeal to you, you may enjoy my recipe for a really good salsa which can be found at the link found to the side.

Making Blackberry dumplings at home is a simple and easy task. It will be very easy for you to create your own family tradition from the basic example listed below.

Ingredients for making blackberry dumplings:

1 & 1 / 2 cups of all-purpose flour.

2 tablespoons baking powder.

1 / 8 teaspoon of salt.

3 tablespoons of shortening or butter.

3 / 4 cup of whole milk.

4 cups of fresh blackberries. You can use canned blackberries if you like but you will get the best flavor from your blackberry dumplings if you use fresh blackberries.

1 / 2 cup of sugar.

2 cups of water.

Directions for making blackberry dumplings:

Combine your blackberries, sugar, and water in a pot and allow to come to a boil on your stove. While waiting for this to happen measure your flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl and cut in the shorting. Stir in your milk until the mixture is consistent through and through. When your blackberries and sugar are boiling in the water, drop spoonfuls of the batter onto the hot berries. Cook uncovered for ten minutes. Then cover the pot and cook for ten more minutes or until the dumplings are fluffy.

Blackberry dumplings make a excellent winter dessert and are popular during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Serve with some vanilla ice cream for a creamy sweet treat that is tasty and filling. They are best served hot as soon as they are cooked.