Baked Apple Dumplings

For 3 people you need

For the shortcrust pastry

12 oz. flour pinch sieve alt 6 oz. margarine water to mix 3 medium cooking apples 3 teaspoons brown sugar little lemon juice, optional 3 cloves

To glaze

little milk or beaten egg.

1. 1. Sflour and salt, rub in fat until mixture is like fine breadcrumbs.
   2. Bind with a little water.
   3. Roll out pastry, cut into 3 squares.
   4. Peel and core the apples and fill the centre with sugar and lemon juice.
   5. Place the apples on the squares of pastry, brush edges with little water, gather them round the apples.
   6. Form any trimmings of pastry into leaves, brush backs of these with water, press on to the dumplings and place a clove in the centre of each.
   7. Brush with little milk or beaten egg.
   8. Bake on an ungreased baking tin in a hot oven for 1 5-20 minutes, then lower the heat to moderate for a further 35-40 minutes.

Oven temperature: hot, 425°F., Gas Mark 6, then moderate, 350-375°F., Gas Mark 4-5 Oven position: centre.