RECIPE OF THE DAY || STRAWBERRY DUMPLINGS

Fresh strawberries make a delicious cobbler-like dish, baked with lightly sweetened drop dumplings. Serve these delicious strawberry dumplings with cream for a wonderful spring or summer treat.

Ingredients:Serves 4 to 6

    * Sauce
    * 1/3 cup granulated sugar
    * 2/3 cup water
    * 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
    * Dumplings
    * 1 cup all-purpose flour
    * 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
    * 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    * 1/2 teaspoon salt
    * 4 tablespoons butter
    * 1/2 cup milk
    * 2 cups cleaned and hulled fresh strawberries
    * 1 tablespoon granulated sugar for topping

Preparation:

In a saucepan, combine the 1/3 cup sugar with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla.

Heat oven to 450°.

Meanwhile, while sugar mixture is simmering, combine the flour, 2 tablespoons of sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Cut in the 4 tablespoons of butter until mixture is crumbly. Add the milk and stir just until moistened and holding together.

Put strawberries in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart baking dish. Pour the simmering sugar and water mixture over the berries. Using a tablespoon, drop the dumpling mixture ovenly over the berry mixture (about 8 to 10 dumplings). Sprinkle the dumplings with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar for topping.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm with cream, if desired.