BRIGHAM’S PEACH DUMPLINGS

For the filling:

4 large peaches, peeled and cut in half

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 dash nutmeg

2 tablespoons cream or evaporated milk

For the crust:

4 cups all-purpose or pastry flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup very cold butter

3/4 cup shortening, chilled

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

3/4 cup very cold water, more or less

For the vanilla cream sauce:

1 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons corn starch

1 cup cream or half and half

3 tablespoons butter

1 dash of cinnamon

1/2 tablespoon vanilla

turbinado sugar (optional)

Directions for the pastry:

1. You will make the pastry as you do pie dough.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and salt together. Cut the cold shortening and butter in with a pastry blender until the mixture has the consistency of kernels.

3. Add the almond extract to the water. Drizzle nearly all the water into the flour mixture. With a fork, stir the water into the flour mixture until a ball begins to form. Press the rest of the flour into the ball and add more water as needed. Knead the dough several times to form a uniform dough but no longer. Divide the dough in half. If the dough is becoming warm and soft, refrigerate the dough until it is chilled.

4. Working with half the dough at a time, roll the dough into two squares 12 inches by 12 inches. Cut the dough into fourths so that you have eight 6 inch by 6 inch squares for eight dumplings. Chill the dough squares stacked between sheets of waxed paper while you make the sauce.

For the sauce:

1. In a heavy saucepan, mix the brown sugar and corn starch together until the corn starch is well dispersed in the sugar. Stir in the cream.

2. Heat the sauce until it boils and thickens, stirring with a whisk. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. Add the vanilla and cinnamon.

For the peach filling:

1. Remove the dough squares from the refrigerator. Place a half peach cut side up in the center of each square. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the peach halves, dividing the brown sugar evenly. Sprinkle with just a touch of nutmeg. Divide the butter into eight chunks placing a chunk on top of each.

2. Fold the corners of the pastry over each peach half bring the corners together to make a four-sided pyramid. Press the edges together and seal them so that the peach juice will not leak while cooking. If you like, you can decorate the tops of the dumplings with any leftover pieces of dough.

3. Brush the pastries with the milk and sprinkle with the optional turbinado sugar. Using a spatula, gently move the pastries to a buttered 10 x 15-inch baking dish. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees or until the pastries are gently browned.

Remove the pastries from the pan while they are still hot and before any sugar that might be in the pan sets.