Asa Gray, Plates prepared between the years 1849 and 1859, to accompany a report on the forest trees of North America, 1891, "Pyrus coronaria, American Crab Apple."
September 17 is National Apple Dumpling Day, probably chosen to coincide with the apple harvest.
Apple dumpling recipes abound across the internet, but probably the most interesting (or delicious sounding) can be found at The Pioneer Woman Cooks, The Best Apple Dumpling Recipe and Colonial Williamsburg's Christiana Campbell's Tavern.
The majority of the recipes recommend using Granny Smith apples, but there is even one that calls for crab apples, from iFood.tv. The crab apple depicted at left is only one of many gorgeous plates from Asa Gray's 1891 survey of North American trees, from the Libraries' Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History.
Whether you like to top your apple dumplings wth sauce or cream or ice cream, there are myriad ways to celebrate the day and enjoy this very American treat.
—Elizabeth Periale
One Comment
Not too many people celebrate apple dumpling day… Glad to see the spread of awareness!