Peanut Butter and Jelly Dumplings
It was an apartment like many other stately Upper East Side apartments except instead of a parquet floor the floor of this living room looked like it been prepared for surgery with linen, plastic wrap, and silver utensils stretching wall-to-wall. It overflowed with guests focusing with utmost concentration on… dumplings.
You see, the lively Nex0s hosted a dumpling party last Sunday. Guests were invited bring their own fillings to stuff into dumpling skins until they got silly. It reminded me of the nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard except it wasn’t a shoe - it was an apartment. And there weren’t so many children - there were so many dumplings I didn’t know what to do. So many, in fact, that at the end of the evening I became concerned about the “orphan” dumplings - dumplings whose masters had left without giving them a home. Luckily, my sisters were happy to help house a few dumpling-children. For a few minutes, at least, before they gobbled them up.
Here was my contribution:
Peanut Butter and Jelly Dumplings
peanut butter
jelly
dumpling skins
toppings and/or sauces (suggestions below)
The directions are pretty simple if you’ve ever made dumplings before: stuff your dumpling skins with your favorite kinds of peanut butter and jelly. I used the most amazing peanut butter made by my fellow foodblogger Jessica of Su Good Sweets. Buy some. You won’t regret it.
Steam your dumplings. Or, pan fry your dumplings in butter or vegan margarine. If, like me, you’ve never made your own dumplings before, this PDF from Cooks Illustrated does a great job explaining the different methods of stuffing and cooking the dumplings.
If you want to be extra fancy you can make one of the two toppings I made for the dumpling party:
1) Spiced Sugar
In a small sauce pan, lightly brown a few cardamoms and cloves either “dry” or with a little butter.
Mix with some turbinado or demerara sugar (or just plain white sugar if that’s what you got) and add a hardy sprinkle of cinnamon.
2) Salt & Vinegar Crumbs for the Adventurous
Crush up some salt and vinegar chips. Dip away with your Pb&J dumplings.
I’m guessing that these dumplings would be good with pretty much any sweet “dip” too - warm nutella, melted chocolate, lavender honey, cinnamon-butter sauce with lemon zest. So many possibilities you won’t know what to do.
January 23rd, 2007 00:36
Yummy! What a sweet story and recipe!
January 23rd, 2007 09:46
How creative! I’m so sorry I missed the party, sounds like it was a blast. And thanks for the tip on Jessica’s peanut butter, definitely something I must try!
January 23rd, 2007 12:53
One little thing: My apartment is on the Upper WEST Side! And never shall the twain meet!
THanks so much for coming. Your dumplings were adorable, warm, gooey, childhood filled goodness
N.
January 23rd, 2007 14:58
I’m sad to say that i didn’t get to sample the PB&J dumplings, but it was fun just to contribute ideas about what types of sauces/dips to use. Since i love bananas on my PB&J, how about a banana cream sauce? Or strawberry jelly & chocolate. Or…
January 24th, 2007 12:19
Thanks for visiting. Glad to hear I’m not the only one who does my own thing on the recipes.
January 25th, 2007 09:06
OMG, bananas and honey. Vanessa, get ready. Its time to gear up for another suburban shopping adventure. (This one may include COSTCO.)
January 25th, 2007 12:05
Oh. And, ummmm…
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/banana.php
January 25th, 2007 12:18
Rachel- it was a real hoot! I highly recommend hosting a dumpling party if your living room permits.
Lisa - I’ve been eating Jessica’s PB with a spoon it’s so good. I bought 3 cartons last friday and I have 1 left!
Nex0s - Er, sorry about the east side/west side dyslexia. I meant no harm.
Sis - quit it!
Kalyn - I love your blog, it’s a pleasure to visit.
QueenB- Let’s go! Maybe mid-Feb? I’m warning you that I may make you take me to JoAnne Fabrics. Oh, and PB&J Time is practically my theme song.
January 26th, 2007 12:01
great idea. during one cooking night a friend’s house, after making veggie dumplings, we had tons of wrappers left over and made some with some with chocolate & PB and some with chocolate and jelly. it was sooo goooood! oddly enough, i never thought to just use PB & Jelly — chocolate can be very distracting