Pomeranian Bread Dumplings

Another recipe compiled from old recipes used in Pomerania, an ancient Germany region abutting the Baltic Sea, divided between Germany and Poland after World War II. The dumplings are very unusual in that they contain a combination of bread, meat, and dried fruit, and therefore can be served as an appetizer or as a very rich accompaniment to fowl, game, or pork dishes. I like to serve them with turkey at Thanksgiving, making dried cranberries one of the ingredients.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 522 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• salt to taste
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup rum
• ¾ cup red wine
• 1 whole clove
• ⅔ pound dried cranberries
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, or to taste
• 1 pound all-purpose flour
• ¼ pound slab bacon, cubed
• ¼ pound bologna, cubed
• 2 stale dinner rolls, cubed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine cranberries and rum in a bowl; soak cranberries in rum, 8 hours to over night. Drain and discard rum.

Step 2

Combine cranberries, red wine, lemon zest, and clove together in a saucepan; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until flavors combine, about 15 minutes. Strain cranberries; discard wine and clove.

Step 3

Beat flour, milk, eggs, and a pinch of salt together in a large bowl until air bubbles form.

Step 4

Cook and stir bacon, bologna, and bread cubes in a large skillet over medium-high heat until lightly browned and crisp, 5 to 10 minutes. Cool in skillet.

Step 5

Transfer bacon mixture and all accumulated pan drippings to flour mixture; stir until an elastic dough forms.

Step 6

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; reduce heat to medium-high to maintain a rapid simmer. Butter a warm baking dish.

Step 7

Working in batches, form dough into dumplings using two large spoons; drop dumplings into simmering water. Cook until dumplings are set, about 15 minutes. Transfer cooked dumplings to prepared baking dish, cover the dish, and keep in a warm place until ready to serve. Top dumplings with cranberry mixture.