How to Make the Apple Dumpling Sauce

　　1 Cup SugarPlace the sugar, water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small saucepan.
　　Bring to boiling point.
　　Add butter or margarine and stir until melted.

　　Remove from heat and set aside.
　　1 Cup Water
　　1/8 (one eighth) Teaspoon Cinnamon
　　1/8 (one eighth) Teaspoon Nutmeg
　　2 Tablespoons Butter or Marg
　　2 Cups Enriched Flour
　　2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
　　1 Teaspoon Salt
　　2/3 (two thirds) Cups Shortening - I use Crisco
　　1/2 (one half) Cup Milk
　　6 Macintosh Apples
　　(about 3 inch diameter)
　　Preheat the oven to 375°
　　Lightly grease a 9" x 13" x 1½" baking dish.
　　Place flour, baking powder and salt in medium size bowl and mix it together with a fork.
　　Add the shortening to the bowl and cut in shortening. Not familiar with the term cut in shortening? You're simply passing the fork through the mixture. You can see what I mean in the movie below.
　　Add milk to bowl all at once and use a fork to just moisten the mixture
　　Place the apple dumpling dough mixture on a lightly floured pastry board. Roll the pastry out until it is large enough cut six 6-inch squares (one for each apple).
　　Note: Yes, for those of you who are in the know, the rolling pin usually has a cloth cover but I couldn't find it and the apple dumpling recipe show had to go on. But I floured it and it worked fine.
　　It's finally time to peel the apples! I peel them and cut them in half. I then cut out the core. I also think that cutting them in half helps insure the apple bakes thoroughly.
　　I keep the apples from turning brown by placing them in a bowl of ice water. I put ice cubes in the water to keep it as cold as possible.
　　Place the apple on one of the 6-inch dough squares holding the two halves together.
　　Pour some sugar into the apple and then generously sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. I just about fill the center of the apple with the sugar.
　　Place a pat of butter on the top.
　　Take a little water and moisten the edges of the 6-inch dough square.
　　Fold the corners to the center of the top of the apple. Do you see now why you want smaller apples?
　　If you start to run a little low on dough doing the final apples you can always roll it out a bit more.
　　Pinch the dough together at the seams.
　　Try to place the apple dumplings in the baking dish about an inch apart if possible. You can see mine were a little close in the picture...but they got perfect anyway.
　　Pour the sauce we made earlier over the apple dumplings and then sprinkle them with sugar.
　　Place the baking dish in the oven preheated to 375° and bake for 35 minutes.