Before I get started on these warm and wonderful apple dumplings, I need to spend a minute talking about a few of my favorite things. One, of course, is food. I cook it, I photograph it, I eat it and then I start the whole thing over again, day in and day out, and I am one happy camper in my kitchen. And the other thing is books. And the authors who write them. And today I want to tell you about some of my very favorites in these categories. One is called apple dumplings, one is called DUMPLIN’ and one is called Julie Murphy, and they are all delicious in their own scrumptious ways. So in happy celebration of one of my favorite authors, one of my favorite books and one of my favorite baked treats, I am giving away three copies of Julie’s amazing new novel DUMPLIN’ and along with them, three Silpat baking sheets to make your own delicious apple dumplings. Or dumplin’s, as I think I might have to call them from now on. Read on!
First, Julie. The brilliant and wise Julie Murphy. I am lucky enough to know her, to get to hug her every once in a while when she comes to town, and to have read both her gorgeous novels.
First she wrote SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY, and I knew I had found an author I was going to be reading for a long, long time. And then she wrote DUMPLIN’. And this whip-smart, sassy, heart-wrenching, uplifting knock-out of a book took my breath away.
In it we meet Willowdean, aka Dumplin’. She’s a self-proclaimed fat girl who is completely comfortable with everything about herself, and in everything from blue jeans to a bikini…until the new hot guy at school falls for her. And then confident Willowdean starts feeling self-conscious. But Willowdean is Willowdean, so she decides that the way to get that confidence back is to enter the Miss Clover City beauty pageant. That’s all I’m going to tell you, because you really, really, REALLY have to read this inspirational, heartfelt, smart and spectacular book. So I’m giving away three copies of it – more on that at the bottom of this post – and that’s not all!
Remember that apple dumpling picture at the top of this post? It involves pie crust. And anything that involves piecrust in my kitchen involves a Silpat. You’ve never heard of a Silpat?
They are silicone mats that ensure that your piecrust, your cookies, your dumplings and anything else sticky you have going on Will Not Stick. Otherwise known as a kitchen miracle.
They are perfect for working with anything sticky or gooey on your countertop, and they are heat resistant so they let your dumplings and scones slide right off the cookie sheet when they are done. You need these babies, and so I am giving away a Silpat with each copy of DUMPLIN’. So this way you can have your DUMPLIN and make them, too. Want to know more about the indispensable Silpat? Click here and here and here and here!
And last but not least (and then I will get to the giveaway) I need to show you the back cover of this extraordinary book. I love every word of this story, but the back of this book is almost as amazing as the inside…
Those of you who have been reading Framed Cooks for a while know that it used to have this picture at the top…for the first three years of its bloggity life, as a matter of fact. I loved the way my daughter was exuberantly sailing through the air in her swimsuit.
And one of the best things about DUMPLIN’? It reminds us that even those of us with middle-aged wear and tear should feel totally great about putting a swimsuit on it. And making whatever kind of splash we want to make.
So here goes: leave me a comment below telling me one thing (or more!) that you are proud of about yourself. I know you’ve got ’em, because I know many of you, and you are AWESOME. And in a week I will randomly (because I could never pick on my own) select three winners to get a copy of DUMPLIN’ and a Silpat.
In the meantime, here’s the very easy, warm and wonderful dumpling recipe. I mean dumplin’ recipe!
This giveaway is now closed – but do try the dumpling recipe, and do read the amazing DUMPLIN’!
Print
Apple Dumplings and a Double Giveaway!
Yield: 4
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
- One batch unbaked piecrust (the purchased two crust fine is perfectly fine, but if you want to make your own, click here for a great version
- 4 apples, peeled and cored (I like Macintoshs for this, but up to you)
- 1/8 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 8 cloves
- Maple syrup for garnish
- Powdered sugar for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, nonstick foil or a silicone baking mat.
- Divide the piecrust into 4 pieces and roll flat.
- Place an apple into the center of each piece of piecrust. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together and shake some into the core opening of each apple.
- Press the edges of the pastry up and around each apple until it is fully covered. Flip the apple over and put it on the prepared baking sheet. Press a clove or two into the top to make a “stem” and bake for 30 minutes.
- Cool slightly. Pour a little puddle of maple syrup onto each plate and put a dumpling in the middle, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve!
A big recipe for a “go big or go home”
I am a beast at walking – long walks and with short legs I can keep up with even the tall gals.
I am also very positive almost all the time.
I’m proud of myself for putting family first. My 89 year old father lives in my home. It can be difficult, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Heh! After feeling grumpy for the last year, I realized that I very much like how I look in my swimsuit. So this made me smile. It’s for the question, I am really good at bringing folks together for all sorts of things and helping folks meet folks they already should have been friends with.
I like my hair even though i complain about its uncompliantness to staying frizz free 🙂
I am really proud of how hard I work at my friendships because they’re that important to me.
Love the dumplin’s. YUM. I am proud that I can be totally independent when the situation arises. Nothing is too difficult if you know you can.
Not going to lie, I had to ask two of my siblings what I should be proud of and they all agreed that I am a pretty darn tootin swell story teller. It’s one thing that I am very confident in.
Also I’m great at Netflix marathons.
I’m proud of the photography business i’ve started and kept going for almost 9 years now.
Im proud of the way I have lived my life!
Proud of myself for eating healthier.
I’m proud of the fact that after working long days and shuttling kids to sports, I make it a priority to cook dinner for them and sit down and have family dinner almost every single night. We may eat later than other folks, but we eat together as a family.
One thing I love about myself is my bed for learning. There’s always something new or there and I want to learn of all.
Another thing about myself that I love is that I try to keep happy and positive under any circumstance. Even when I’m sad, if you give me a few minutes you’ll see a smile on my face, because a lot of ppl have it worse and I’m grateful for what I have.
I am proud of my garden and how much food I have stored and put up for the winter. I am happy for the most amazing summer on my adult record. I’m a lifelong learner and proud of it. Namaste
I am proud of my baking. I LOVE to bake! Yummy cakes from scratch and homemade pies. I am glad fall is here and that winter is on the way because this is the best time of the year to bake.
I’m proud of working hard to be a good friend– even if that means setting reminders to email people and check in or send a card. I want to make sure people in my life know I love and appreciate them!
Also, my boobs are pretty rockin’. JUST SAYING. 😉
the thing i love the most about myself is not overthinking things and not rushing. i know it sounds silly but i find that life would be many times easier if people accepted their flaws and their advantages and leave it at that and accept every day as it is and just live that day however you want.
I am proud that I have the means to open my home up to friends and family and serve an abundance of tasty food and drinks while having fun doing it.
Looks like I have some reading to do!
I think I have become more patient and a better listener.
I hope I offer an ear, a shoulder, a hug, and helpful and/or comforting words❤️ I really care about struggles that people face and working on finding the right niche to help others.
Thanks Kate????
I’m a fabulous cook & “I cannot lie”.
I am proud that I have survived our house renovation!!!!!
I’m proud of myself for overcoming the trauma of childhood abuse and refusing to allow it to define me as an adult.
Proud of myself for bringing Mom home from the nursing home, and then 24/7 caring for her until she finally passed at 99 1/2!!
Proud to stay with positive thoughts all my life!
I’m proud of the fact that I taught myself how to cook scrumptious meals – one recipe at a time and one food show at a time! 🙂
I am most proud of my only child and the man that he is. He is a proud parent and he makes me proud. He encouraged me to get my motorcycle license at age 62. It is soooo much fun!
I’m proud that I’m growing to appreciate life and better interact with those around me.
This is why I LOVE your blog so darn much, Kate! Posts like these just make me feel terrific, and they’re so meaningful. I love love love these books and the awesome messages they’re promoting in a non-cliche way. I’m proud of my broad shoulders and petite athletic build–I’m a swimmer so I definitely agree that everyone should feel GREAT in a swimsuit, wherever and however they are!
oh. haha somehow I thought your prompt said to say why you’re proud of your physical type 🙂 well, still proud! I’m also proud of the fact that I’ve been able to pick up swimming again and feel great after four years away from the pool. cheers!
I am proud of being a mom and raising my kids!
I am proud of myself for starting my own jewelry line! 🙂
I’m proud of my writing and hyperactive imagination. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I am most proud of the way I have survived the past two years, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and since I was the caregiver for my husband who had Alzheimer’s it was a difficult decision to find a care center for him. Six months of chemo, then radiation and a major car accident which involved 2 wrist surgeries, the loss of my husband but I have survived and emerged a stronger person.
This whole post just made me want to hug you!! Hmmm I am proud of myself for being so close to being done with my PhD! ONE MORE WEEK.
I am a ‘Big Girl’ myself, and I learned a long time ago that who I am on the inside is much more important to my good state of mind every day!! But one day to make myself remember how much I liked about ‘ME’ I wrote this poem:
“I Love Me!”
I love me.
I love the happy me.
I love the fact of me.
I love the silly me.
I love me.
I love the confident me.
I love the cooking me.
I love the sexy me.
I love me.
I love the cuddly me.
I love the caring me.
I love the beautiful me.
I love me.
I love the supportive me.
I love the sporting me.
I love the giddy me.
I love me.
I love the quiet me.
I love the talkative me.
I love the pensive me.
I love me.
I love the sensitive me.
I love the thoughtful me.
I love the world, with me.
I love me.
I love the patient me.
I love the stylish me.
I love the smiling me.
I love me.
I love the creative me.
And the one who created me,
because he helps relate to me
why I love me.
And I do love me!
Clearly, I love a lot of things about me!! ^_^ And I think everybody should!!! ♥
Tenacious and a strong advocate for children with special needs.
First of all, that’s an incredible pic of your daughter. I’m also very into whatever pool you guys are in. It’s gorgeous.
And another incredible pic of dumpling! Looks so amazing. Talk of things to be proud of…
I’m proud of my commitment to fitness. Every day, I wake up and exercise. It starts the day on the right note, and then I also feel like I’ve surmounted a huge challenge right off the bat!
What a great post, Kate! I love your message of feeling comfortable in your own skin. Now onto these dumplings…they look fantastic! Love the apples inside here!
that I take the time and make food form scratch for my kids.
Great looking recipe. Thank you for sharing.
I’m proud of myself be being the best I can be and I also try to create humor in some way shape or form in my everyday life and for raising 2 wonderful daughters ( with the help of my husband o9f course) and them giving us 9 wonderful grandkids . Also proud of the small things that I have accomplished in my 66 years.
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway opportunity
Just this year I’ve become a little more proud of my stretch marks from pregnancy.
I love the fact that I am finally at a point in my life that I’ve decided a little apple dumpling once in awhile never killed anyone, and it is none of my business what people think about me in my swimsuit anyway!
I’m proud of the fact that I ran a half marathon last weekend for the first time, at age 48!
I’m proud of my 2 children and the people they’ve become. I’m proud that I nursed my mom through 11 years of breast cancer before she passed away.
Thanks, I needed this post! You’re wonderful like that!
Is it sad that I’m having trouble thinking of something that I’m proud of myself for? I guess that I’m steadfast, which has helped me run two marathons and counting.
I am most proud of giving my family memories and keeping them close. That is what mothers do.
I am most proud of being a mother and having raised three wonderful children!
I am most proud of my smile because even when someone is sad a smile can bring happiness to someone else!
That sentence “I’m proud of myself for….” is a tough one for me to say.* But I think I am proud of myself for two things: the ability to get along with everybody and the fact that I can still make my husband laugh (after 45 years).
*I’m 66 and growing up, heard the old lines “don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back” and “girls don’t brag”.
I’m proud of myself because I’m good at crocheting.
Fantastic post, Kate! I think feeling comfortable in our own skin is a struggle for a lot of people, let alone recognizing attributes they are actually proud of! What am I proud of about myself? Hmmm.. I am loyal to a T and I genuinely love and care about people. Sometimes that bites me in the you know what though! 😉 Anyways, your apple dumplin’s look beyond sensational! I could probably eat way too many of those! Pinned! Cheers, pretty lady! P.s. love those pool pics!!
I proud of myself because I try my hardest to look for the good in others
I have raised two WONDERFUL young men who have excellent values and are independent thinkers and loving and kind. This is what I have invested in. LOVE
I am proud that I just took the leap into a yoga teacher training program!
I aam proud of upping my work out game for the past few weeks!
I’m proud of the home library my fiancé and I built. We turned our spare room into a library and it is beautiful!!!!
I am proud the I raised three children that are now kind, caring adults.
what a great giveaway!!! I love inspirational books like this! and yes! we need to celebrate and love ourselves no matter what our size!
I’m proud of my baking! It’s something that takes away my stress, centers me and lately I haven’t been second guessing the finished product like I used to. I embrace that baking is all about learning technique (especially cake making) and having fun with it, and it makes me happy!
I am proud I get up at 4:45 am 5 days a week to walk!
I am proud of myself for working a full time job while putting myself through MBA school at night
I am a good cook!
I’m not sure if this post is only geared towards women or not but I could definitely use a new split because mine have seen their better days. And I am proud of taking a leap this year into doing my own thing as a personal chef. It feels rewarding to make your own schedule and to be surrounded by people who love what you do.
I meant *sil pat not split. #sadface
I’m proud to be a super bread baker. Fougasse, French, olive, whole grains, panettone, Russian cheese bread …
I am proud of my ability to take care of animals.
My confidence – or at least my ability to have the appearance of confidence, even when I’m not so sure of myself.