Recipe(tried): Ruby Pearls Peaches N' Dumplins

Hello Friends;
My, I am taken back by all those nice things that you all said in
your replies to my recipes! I'm proud to tell 'em to ya'll, and happy
to know that you think that my stories are worth the time it takes to
read 'em. I just dont wanna bore anyone, but, if ya like what ya read,
then write on I will... Now, once again, this recipe has a story to it
and it's a sweet one as well. Enjoy my friends.

Ruby Pearl's "Peaches N'Dumplins"


Now, the recipe will follow on, but the story that goes with it
all is much more interestin.
Now, Ruby Pearl was another of my mommas sisters, and she married into a proper family and to an attorney as well. They lived down in Charlottesville, and had a big house with a wrap 'round porch with all the pleasures. Big ole rockin chairs and gliders and, two porch swings, such that it was just the most wonderful thing to go to that house and sit a spell and watch the children out in the yard catchin fire flies and stuffin those poor creatures into a jar till they got enough of 'em to read by the glow of there lil glimmer! Now, this was a special occasion to be asked down to see Ruby Pearl. I think it best to be saved as a "Fathers Day" or "Mothers Day" event usually. All I can truley remember is that it was usually so hot and sticky that the best thing I could think of doin is stayin by the fan.
By late in the evenin, all of us younguns were collected up on the porch, and clutched to our mommas hearts in big old hugs of love, and to gather round with all the elder folks, and this annual ritual unfolded, just as it had for ages before. It was this special time we did a gander of the picture box.
It was rather silly to us younguns, but, something we were sappose to do regardless, and it was just a big old box of pictures that contained every single person that ever lived that was even possibly related to us. We summonded Granny Church, and as always, she had a sweet response to us to "Hush Yungguns", we're talkin bought kin, Peach Dumplins are commin on soon, with 'nilla ice cream!

The picture box was placed in the middle of the porch, and the circle of kin surrounded it, and we all took turns takin out a picture and telling whatever story we had to tell bought that little click of a second that happend long ago. If we couldn't identify the personality, it was passed on round the circle till someone would yell "OH! My, law, thats Ms.Belva Mullins! Done forgot all bought her, she was such a sweet ole thing, homely as a mud fence, but sweet as pecan pie!" On deep into the southern night our picture lookin would go and memories flowed like water from a sweet well, and we all laughed and a time or two, we had to cry, but, it was simply our life, and our past! Sweet southern aristocracy, which we were never near part of, but, in our own rich way as family, we were the Rockafellers!

Now, by sacred ritual through the years, Ruby Pearl would then serve up a most wonderful dish that was "Revered" in the area. Her famous Peaches N' Dumplins with a big ole scoop of 'nilla ice cream! Now, this made the whole effort of lookin at these old pictures worth it all, cause this dessert went down like heaven, Oh, my, delicious beyond your wildest dreams.

Thank you friends for hearing the little bit of memorioes that is the realism of this recipe. I think that to understand the story that is behind this makes it even more tastier than if you just pulled it out of some cookbook and fixed it up, and I think ya'll will agree!

Ok, here it is, "Ruby Pearl'S Peaches & Dumplings"

Now, after you fix this and get a glob of 'nilla ice cream on it, go out on your porch, if you have one, and if not, sit out in the yard and enjoy the wonderful air of nature, and I personally think it makes it all taste a bit better!



3 Cups sliced peaches (very ripe)
2 Cups water
1 Cup sugar
2 Tablespoons lemon juice (fresh)
1 Cup Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix
1/4 Cup light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 Cup Sweet Milk
2 Tablespoons Butter, melted



Combine peaches, water, sugar, and lemon juice in a 3 quart saucepan with a tight fitting lid. Bring peach mixture to a boil; boil 2-3 minutes. While peaches are boiling, combine pancake mix, brown sugar, nutmeg, milk and butter. Stir only until mixed. Remove peach mixture from heat, drop dumpling batter by round teaspoons onto hot peach mixture. cover pan and return to heat; cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. DO NOT LIFT LID!!!

Now, serve it up all hot and drippy and scoop the 'nilla ice cream on!

I hope you do this recipe, and know that this recipe is very much "Tried & Ture" and an heirloom that is special to my heart. And, if you got a big ole box of pictures of your family and your past, this might jus well be the time to pull 'em out and take a gander. Your youngguns will love it!

Peace to you all, my friends.
David In Virginia