Apple Dumplings

For 12 medium size dumplings:

3 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

1 cup + 2 Tbs. shortening

6 Tbs. cold water

Combine flour and salt, thoroughly cut shortening into flour until mixture is small crumbs. Sprinkle cold water over crumbs, gently squeeze together to form a ball of dough, either with your hands or rubber spatula. Divide dough into 12 parts. Roll each part on a floured surface into a 5" square. Place one whole, peeled and cored apple on the center of the dough. Put 1 tsp. of sugar into the core of the apple, and sprinkle apple generously with cinnamon. Bring dough up around apple to encompass apple, pinching dough edges together. If desired, excess dough may be pinched off and reused. Place dumplings in greased 9 X 13" cake pan. Bake in 350-degree oven for 30 minutes, remove from oven, pour apple juice between dumplings, and bake an additional 30 minutes (dumplings must bake one hour total).

apple juice: Heat 2 cups of apple juice (bottled, any brand) to boiling. Remove from heat, dissolve ½ cup sugar in juice. Use as directed.