Dumpling Dinner!....Post Views 9853

      Yesterday (Friday) I felt like my old self-----dumpling maker.  Dumplings---bread and potatoes--- have been a major staple of our family for the past 48 years.  I learned the skill from my mother-in-law when I was first married.  

 
First you need to dry out the bread and then break it into small pieces..... 

 then grate raw potatoes....these days that is done in a blender....in the "old days" it was by hand grater...which out for scraped fingers. 

Next comes "squishing" up the mixture until the texture resembles playdoh.  

All ages can get involved....even get artistic...

                                                                                                                    

Today I mostly use bought sauerkraut. Back in Wisconsin we frequently made homemade kraut in the fall and froze it in plastic bags for use throughout the year.  It is not as sour as store kraut.

Add roasted pork and gravy and one has a feast fit for a king.....

     or a grinning grandson.....












   Unless you are the Millers.....then one needs to add "sour gravy".

 That originated also from my mother-in-law.  In early years venison ribs were boiled with onions and salt and the broth then thickened with flour browned in lard---finished with vinegar and allspice.  
     Today I start with bought beef broth, but then finished the traditional manner.  Labor intensive?  Why, yes!  A labor of love...  

   Hey, Jake, have a dumpling....or four.....

    Grandma G's dumplings have been enjoyed from Wisconsin to Washington....and....Shepparton, Australia.  

    Grandma G....

Making dumplings
"down under"

"I came all the way to Australia to make dumplings?"  Kate...

                       First dumplings for the Kellehers....

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     And, today, Saturday?   A major rest day....besides laundry and packing for San Diego. Woo!  Woo!

This had been a good 2 "dumpling cooking" days in the life of Grandma G.  

    "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man [and woman] who takes refuge in him."  (Psalm 34:8)