Valentine's Day Dinner

Last night we had our Valentine's day. We had a nice time. Corny made dinner while I made apple dumplings, we opened up a bottle of wine we had been saving for four years, watched Couple's Retreat, and then just sipped our wine and talked. We will exchange our Walgreen's gifts on Sunday, that is if I can wait that long!! I have included some pictures of the apple dumplings, and other things from our night.

Apple Dumplings
2 Cups water
1 1/4 Cups sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 Cup butter
2 Cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 Cup shortening
4-6 Tablespoons of half-and-half
2 Tablespoons of chopped walnuts
1 Tablespoon of honey
2 Tablespoons sugar
4 Granny Smith apples
butter

In a saucepan combine 1 1/4 C sugar and 1/2 t of cinnamon. Let it boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 5 min.
Add 1/4 C of butter and remove pan from heat. Just set it aside for now.

Mix together salt and flour.

If you have a pastry cutter use that to cut in the shortening. I need one but I will usually use a whisk and mash it, or a for.

Add in half and half by the tablespoon until it is moist. Make sure and use a fork to stir in the half and half after each pour, you don't want it to be too moist.You are done when it is crumbly.

Work it into a ball, then roll it to a 18x12 in rectangle.

Cut into 4-6 six inch squares.

Peel and core each of your apples.

In one small bowl mix together the honey and walnuts. In another mix together the remaining sugar and cinnamon.

Place the walnut and honey mixture inside the core of each apple. Then sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar around it. Place a small piece of butter on top.

Cover the apples in the pastry. I added a heart on top in honor of the holiday!

Bring your sauce back up to a boil and pour on top of your dumplings. Then place in a 350 degree oven for about an hour.The very best wine I have ever had, courtesy of the best wine club ever Robert Sinskey Vineyards. It was perfect!

Beautiful flowers that my Dad sent me.

Corny's dinner of rib eye, and creamy potatoes. We forgot to make the asparagus, so the plate is missing a little green.

And the apple dumpling for dessert. Scoop the sauce on top of the dumpling then serve with some ice cream.

Ricci is coming over tomorrow night for dinner, so I will bake what ever she chooses. I am so excited to see her. San Francisco seems like states away even though its only about 15 miles. So I miss seeing Ricci, Kat, and Yvonne!! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend!!