DUMPLINGS!

As a kid I used to eat dumplings at Pastor Penny's house. The filling was simple: ground beef or pork seasoned with ground pepper. Sometimes some finely chopped cabbage. Now that I know how to make them myself I have been experimenting with different fillings. For this dumpling session I made a few different fillings: shiitake mushroom, carrot ginger, shrimp and a dessert apple pie dumpling. The rule is if you can stuff it in there, its a dumpling, no matter how untraditional.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE AND COOK DUMPLINGS
The procedure is the same for all the dumplings. Set your wonton wrapper on a plate with some cold water nearby. Fill the center of the dumpling with about a teaspoon of filling. Wet the edge of the dumpling with the water. Fold it over and pinch it shut. Easy.

This is a great to do as a team. One wraps, the other fries.

Use canola for frying and don't crowd the frying pan. Fry until golden on each side but not overdone. These dumplings became more like wontons but they were still delicious.

As they are done frying set them on some paper towels.

Once everything has fried, add them all back into the pan, add a tablespoon of water, put a lid on it and let them steam to ensure the filling has cooked through. For the vegetable dumplings this step may not be necessary but I would not skip with meat or fish filling.

Enjoy your dumplings with a gyoza dipping sauce or just some plain soy sauce. Scallions make a nice fresh crunchy topping.

Shiitake Dumpling Filling

1 box of Shiitake Mushrooms, chopped

1 Scallion, chopped

1 TBSP fresh grated ginger

Sautee everything in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cool slightly before filling the wonton wrappers. Follow directions above to cook dumplings.

Carrot Ginger Dumplings Filling

3-4 carrots, grated

1 TBSP grated ginger

1 scallion, chopped

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Sautee everything in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cool slightly before filling the wonton wrappers. Follow directions above to cook dumplings.

Shrimp Dumpling Filling

1/2-1 lb shrimp, clean deveined and chopped finely

1 TBSP soy sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

2 TBSP chopped scallions

cayenne pepper

Mix ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Fill wonton wrappers. Follow directions above to cook dumplings.

Apple Pie Dumpling Filling

1 apple, chopped finely

1 TBSP fresh grated ginger

2 TBSP brown sugar

nutmeg

cinnamon

butter

salt

whiskey

Sautee all the ingredients in a pan. Cool slightly before filling wonton wrappers. Follow directions above to cook dumplings.