September 26 National Dumpling Day #NationalDumplingDay

I thought I would ask you a question this afternoon. Did you know September 26th is National Dumpling Day #NationalDumplingDay? When you think of Dumplings what do you think of? Chinese Food or Dessert like a Apple Dumpling? Or are you like me and think of Chicken and Dumplings which being sick today I wish I had some of. How about you?

Did you know the second best thing about National Dumpling Day is that no matter your ancestry, you probably have some form of Dumpling in your history. and you should know one of the very best thing about National Dumpling Day is trying new Dumplings

Or eating old favorites, or cooking your grandmother’s recipe, or inventing your own Dumplings, or all of the above. However you celebrate, September 26th might be your new favorite day of the year. In the meantime here is a fun fact for you. National Dumpling Day may not be the oldest of holidays because National Dumpling Day only started in 2015 but National Dumpling Day might be one of the tastiest.

National Dumpling Day Activities

1. Grab a cookbook and find a dumpling recipe you’ve never heard of like Coxinhas, or Clootie Dumplings or Maultaschen Dumplings. Then grab a spron and create these Dumplings which is going to let you learn something new.
2. Honor National Dumpling Day founders by sitting down to an authentic Chinese meal. If you can fit a Dumpling into each of your meals you will receive a gold star.
3. When your Dumplings are served snap a pic of your creation or your meal out, and post the pictures on Social Media with #NationalDumplingDay. Then click the hashtag, and see how others are celebrating, too.

Dessert Dumpling Ideas

1. ​Did you know Apple Dumplings are said to have originated in Norfolk, United Kingdom.
2. For a fun way to celebrate #NationalDumplingDay visit a Apple Farm to pick Apples for your Dumplings.
3. ​Dampfnudel is a sweet Dumpling that hails from Germany, Austria, and France.
4. On Thanksgiving, serve your Sweet Potatoes in dumpling form. Since David is the only one who eats Sweet Potato’s I don’t think he would eat them as a Dumpling because he want’s Pecans and Marshmallows on this Sweet Potatoes. What about your family?
5. ​Tangyuan​ are Chinese Sweet Dumplings including Sesame Seeds, Candied Ginger, and crushed Nuts.
6. ​Don’t forget to dip your Dumplings in Butterscotch, Caramel, Honey, or Chocolate. Which I will pass on. How about you?

Why People Love National Dumpling Day

1. If you have the opportunity today try Sausage and Egg Breakfast Dumplings first, Chinese steamed Dumplings for lunch, Pierogi for dinner, and Apple Dumplings for dessert. Or what about Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Dumplings for breakfast, Matzo Ball Soup for lunch, Chicken and Dumplings for dinner, and Maple Syrup Dumplings for dessert.
2. TMI Food Group is National Dumpling Day’s founder, and TMI’s mission is about joy. Simply put? “To make people happy.”
3. The Chinese might be most associated with Dumplings, but nearly every culture has small balls of Dough that you fry, boil, or use in a casserole.
4. Africans steam Banku and Kenkey and Indians make Ada and Modak with Coconut and Sugar. Nepalese serve Momos with Tomatoes and Chilies. I don’t know about you but I will pass on all of these Dumplings.

Recipe for Chinese Pork Dumplings

Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hour Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins Servings: 5 Yield: 50 dumplings

Ingredients

Dipping Sauce:

• ½ cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped Chinese chives
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon chile-garlic sauce (such as Sriracha)

Dumplings:

• 1 pound ground pork
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped Chinese chives
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 ½ tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 50 dumpling wrappers
• ½ cup vegetable oil for frying, or as needed

Directions

1. Prepare dipping sauce: Combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, chives, sesame seeds, and chile sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
2. Prepare dumplings: Mix pork, garlic, egg, chives, soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
3. Place a dumpling wrapper on a lightly floured work surface and spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filling in the middle.
4. Wet the edge with a little water and crimp together forming small pleats to seal the dumpling. Repeat to form remaining dumplings.
5. Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place 8 to 10 dumplings in the pan and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
6. Pour in 1 cup of water; cover and cook until the dumplings are tender and pork is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
7. Repeat to cook remaining dumplings, adding more oil and water for each batch.
8. Serve dumplings with dipping sauce.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates