Dumplings.

[Crocus]

Do you like dumplings? My dad was crazy about it, and my mum's dumplings she made always were very light. I've never made dumplings actually because OH doesn't like it - he said he remember it being quite stodgy. Of course it's summer now, or it's on it's way, so perhaps will wait until it's cooler, but do you make dumplings often?

[cindy]

We like dumplings but I make them very rarely as a treat and then they are quite small and light

[Gentian]

I don't make them, but my grandmother's were wonderful sitting in gorgeous gravy, takes me back a long way!

[dinger]

I sometimes make them winter time . just small ones I call them dough boys.xxx

[Crocus]

We have soup in summer too as we love soup, so perhaps I should try it next time - probably Monday evening. X

[dragonfly]

I used to love them but haven't had proper ones since childhood. Arn't they made with suet?

[cindy]

I use vegetable Atora as D is a vegetatian and when she was at home I wouldn't dare use proper suet:)

[souter girl]

ooh yes! The thing about a lot of these "oid fashioned" recipes is that they were very economical - you could "stretch" a casserole with dumplings and a roast with Yorkshire pudding. I need to tighten our belts so I think I am going to have a careful look at these and similar recipes.Any suggestions?

[Crocus]

I can't remember my mum using suet, but it's not to say that she didn't use it. I just remember these fluffy light dough balls. x

[Crocus]

You can also "stretch" minced beef, adding veggies, pasta, or potatoe cubes. My sis-in-law always made a lovely chicken dish with prepared chicken cut into strips, adding cooked macaroni (or any pasta), cauliflower which she cut into smaller bits, carrot slices, baby corn, mushrooms, onions. She added a white sauce and baked it in the oven.

[Gentian]

That sounds nice, Crocus, did she boil the pasta before hand? Might give it a go.

[Crocus]

HI Gen, yes she did. Everything is actually already prepared, you just throw the lot together and you can use whatever you feel actually, just add the white sauce and bake for a bit. I think she put cheese on top as well, but it's to own taste really. You get very far with this dish. I also add fried bacon bits, it's gives a total different taste. It's really a very versatile and "stretchy' dish.

One could perhaps leave out the pasta and add dumplings. xx

[dinger]

I have got a caserole in the oven today so will drop a few dough boys in later just before serving .xx

[Crocus]

We're having soup today, so perhaps I will also add a few, problem is OH doesn't like it a lot.

[dinger]

Our dinner was lovely tonight and just right as it has turned so cold. I had it in the oven cooking slow all day so the meat was very tender .xx

[dinger]

At a boot fair I visited yesterday there were Russian Dumplings being cooked and sold on a stall. Another selling a type of foreign dish which smelt awful they were heating it up under a corrogated roof cover and the condensation was dripping down into the food. Health and Safety would be down on them like a ton of bricks. I would never eat anything being cooked and sold in this way a sure way to get food poisoning I would think. xx

[Primrose]

Talking of dinners I am getting fed up with cooking for an ungrateful OH!

My OH is totally engrossed in his shed most days, which is good, but comes out to be fed.

I do not expect thanks but I can cook good dinners and most days a meal will be on the table. Just sometimes when I am short of time out comes the egg & chips. He used to say things like e.g. I enjoyed that, thank you, that was lovely, etc. This is becoming a thing of the past so am I being taken for granted?

His little ritual, that I have tolerated for months now, is that he gets up from the table, leaves me sitting there, with comments like the news has started.

This week we have had our new TV arrive and I, because OH doesn't understand it?!, have 'set up' the old one upstairs. So tonight he was heading upstairs as though he is going to his flat!

So here are my thoughts -

Maybe I will only cook once a week when my Mum comes up on a Sunday.

If I could arrange meals on wheels he may not even notice that I am here.

In fact just lately every time I talk he tell me to stop moaning! Perhaps he got another woman out in the shed:confused:

Now I have had my moan you can all go back to dumplings now - thank you for a place to let it all out!

[Crocus]

Now what is Russian Dumplings I wonder?

[souter girl]

Men! They do just expect food to be on the table when they are ready don't they? I know when OH appears and wanders round the kitchen that he is thinking "Time for a meal, surely" Sometimes says Thank you, but didn't today NOR did he say anything after I took him to his cardiac rehab class (round trip 20 miles) and then collected him 2 hours later having dashed home to get some veg soup started, clear the dishwasher etc in between. I did sort of hint when I said Gosh I have done over 40 miles already today and been driving for 1 1/2 hours. S-i-l-e-n-c-e. Hmmm I think a punishment is due........

[dinger]

Mine has decided he doesn't like onions or anything with onion in after having them for over 50yrs. I still put them in and tell him to have fun fishing to get them out . There are several things he is choosy about now but it is eat it or go without or otherwise cook yourself something. I'm not putting up with the nonsense.xx

[Primrose]

If only they knew what we are thinking sometimes. Thank you for sharing your meal time fun ladies.

I loved the way you described your onion story Dinger. My OH will eat anything so I can't send him 'fishing'. One thing I will do is if I have something I do not want him to eat, when he does his evening rummage in the cupboard, is to put it low down. Unless it is eye level he can't find it.:D

SG - do you think men understand 'hints'? Mine, when he listens, puts it down to me being sarcastic. Maybe it is the way I say it perhaps I should swoon a little/sit down saying I am feeling faint.

Oh! Well maybe a few dumplings .... no .....egg and chips for 6 nights might do it.

[dinger]

I get asked first thing in the morning "Whats for dinner tonight" . For goodness sake I go deaf and don't answer !!! xx

The Russian Dumplings looked like hard boiled eggs but rather slimey looking. They were being cooked in a wok.xx

[Primrose]

The other thing is ' what time is dinner' !!!! I told you all about the time I was woking late and I asked him to get the dinner! (Thinking it would not happen.)

Out of the rayburn came a plate with toast, fried egg and beans. It was fused together as he had to keep it warm and this was 10 p.m. - he cooked it about 6 p.m. His excuse - I was not sure what time you were coming back - rubbish!

[Crocus]

I've never heard of Russian Dumplings, had a look on the internet and found this:

http://www.moscowgourmetkitchen.com/2010/03/06/pelmeni-and-vareniki-russian-dumplings/

[dinger]

Are you going to try them Crocus ?xx

[Crocus]

I don't think so Dinger! X

[sunflower]

I actually make dumplings with stork margerine never suet, mixed with milk. They are lovely. If making a pork casserole I add apples into the dumplings, or lamb I might add mint. I'm really into dumplings!!

[dinger]

I am going to try your way next time I make dumplings S F .xxx