DUMPLINGS WITH PLUMS by Ivy @ Ivy Mosquito
I started cooking when I was 9. I often wonder how does it feel when you did not start at an early age. I mean, some of us started just few years back, few months, or even few days back. I wonder how does it feel not being able to love cooking just because you believe you can’t cook? There’s Lori who started less than a year ago. And now, here’s Ivy who didnt like cooking about a year ago. The feeling must be really great. Right, Ivy? NOW, they rock in the kitchen. π
Well, Ivy here is such a funny gal and she made me smile especially when we excanged so many emails regarding the guest post. I met her at Fiesta Friday (thanks to the wonderful and amazing Angie). I was really happy when she emailed me, telling me that she wanted to do a guest post for me and this is the first time she’d be a guest blogger. Emails, emails… and it was really fun.
Friends, I will not let you wait any longer… Here’s Ivy who’s blogging from Ivy Mosquito. And oh, her blog is amazing – you’d be inspired; you’ll shed a tear, smile and laugh. You are an inspiration, too, Ivy. (Please check one of her posts.)
Okay, here’s Ivy –
Β Dumplings With Plums
Hello!!!! Or can I say, Pozdrav! That’s hello on Croatian… π
I am so happy to do this guest post on Jhuls blog TheNotSoCreativeCook for many reasons. First, this is my first post as a guest blogger. First of many, I hope. Also you won’t believe it, but just a year ago, cooking was something I really didn’t like to do. I know! Shocking, right? π
I just wasn’t into it. I cooked to eat, that’s it. Then, blog came along, Fiesta Friday’s came along, my love for photography and eating collided and… I started loving to cook and prepare different dishes and desserts. OK, shhhhh, we still won’t share the news… Lets just say I like it now much more than I used to.
Other bloggers inspired me to experiment and to get involved, even though it is hard for me to understand recipes most of the time. (Confusing measurments β we use metric system β and ingredients being not available or very expensive in Croatia.)
But photos of delicious food and amazingly prepared meals and desserts kept me drooling all over my screen every week (Jhuls one included! π ). And as I love to explore new stuff, I started to search for recipes interesting to me, something I haven’t eaten ever. But this time, I have decided to make something very special. A meal traditionally from MeΔimurje, area on the northwest of Croatia. My grandma was from there and my mum knows a lot of traditional recipes. This one we eat a lot at home. I bring you β KNEDLE. Or dumplings.
It is pronounced Kneh-dleh. π
First, you need six average size potatoes and about ten plums. If you end up with extra dough, you just grab more plums. And yes, I did start cooking at 10:30 pm. (Microwave clock)
Boil the potatos for about 45 minutes, check if they’re done with a knife. Carefully peel the skin off. Do not burn your fingers multiple times like I did. Squash the potatoes for a while, the more you mash them, there will be less unwanted lumps.
Add half a kilogram of flour (smooth), half of tablespoon of salt and one egg. Mix together with hands. Be careful that the egg doesn’t get directly on the still hot potatoes, because it will cook itself. π Knead the dough until it has a nice form.
Now it’s time for plums. Grab a spoon and use it do make a portion of dough to fit inside your hand. Put the plum in the middle and make a ball out of it. Add one full tablespoon of salt in the water. Put the dumplings in the boiling water and stirr a little. Let them boil for about 10 minutes. If they are floating and the dough has the color as the one in the photo, they are done.
Now it’s time for topping, the best part. Grab bread crumbs, put oil in the pan and fry crumbs until they are brown. Pour over the dumplings. If your meal has to stay over the night like mine had to, pour some oil on the sides of the bowl to keep them fresh. Oh yeah, when you slice them to eat, pour sugar on them. Sour taste of plums goes excelent with sugar on top.
I really hope you will like this, I have made so much effort to make it happen.
Thank you Jhuls again for allowing me to do this!
Ivy <3
Whoa! Thank you for that awesome treat, Ivy. This is my first time to hear this and I must say that those are looking so delicious. Thank you so much for all the efforts you put in making this guest post possible… and you know that I’d be willing to return back the favor if one day, you’d be needing some guest bloggers. π
Friends and FF crowd, what are you waiting for? I know you wanted to take one the moment m you saw Ivy carrying a plate of these. π
PS: This is the last guest post from a blogging buddy. I will bring you the last, but not the least guest blogger – a friend from Instagram and I am sure you’d be amazed. So stay tuned. πΒ (You know where to keep in touch with me – if you want to be a guest blogger, my inbox allows drachma-zillion incoming emails. π )
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24 Comments
Fae's Twist & Tango
Jhuls, These dumplings are amazing. I have to come back and sturdy how to make them. π
Jhuls
Thank you, Fae. I am glad you liked this post. π
skd
Awesome recipe. And looks so easy too. Thanks Jhuls and Ivy for sharing π
Jhuls
It’s our pleasure, skd. Thanks for being here. <3
MyKabulKitchen
I cant imagine my life without cooking so its so interesting to hear about people who are discovering their new love for cooking, though now I think about it I have only really been cooking a few years myself…just has become a natural hobby/passion for me.
Ivy these dumplings look divine!! I had something slightly similar at a small village restaurant in the outskirts of Vienna, I remember they served melt in your mouth apricot dumplings that looked similar to your dumplings…I know Croatia has it’s own unique cuisine so perhaps they are 2 different dishes, but thank you for sharing now I have a base recipe to follow!
And the use of potato in the dough is simply intriguing, so interesting!
Thanks for sharing π
ivyon
Thank you so much π Yes, I think it might be similar, Vienna is very close..
Jhuls
Yeah, what must been like for people who are not cooking? I wonder. π Thank you so much for being here. <3
ivyon
Reblogged this on Ivy Mosquito | Liberating My Creative Soul and commented:
Today is a very special day… I am a first-time guest blogger in this lovely community! π
This was arranged about two months ago and I am excited and happy that is finally here…my time to shine with my recipe of traditional dumplings hehe… Thank you Jhuls for having me over at thenotsocreativecook which is completely misleading because her recipes always leave me wanting more and more! π
I hope you will like it. There is something special about this post also. It collided with our days of honoring the loved ones that are not around anymore (November 1st and 2nd) and these dumplings come from my grandma who I love and who has taken care of me since I was a little baby. I dedicate this to her. I will always remember you.
Jhuls
It’s my pleasure, Ivy. And thank you so much for the reblog. <3
ivyon
Awwww thank you so much! I don’t know if I’m happy and excited more about me being a guest blogger, my post being online or how you described my blog! π If you have been on my blog lately you’ll see I have some hard(er) times and my blog suffers π I really really miss it… Now, I HAD to check this out and I promise to check out other guest post you had (I know there was many) as soon as I will be able to… π
I see many are wondering where did my passion for cooking come from… Well, I was living a very stressful way which left time just to eat to not collapse, and when I started really listening to myself and my body I started thinking more about what I eat and how <3
Have a great day everyone and Jhuls, of course you'll be my guest blogger one day, you can count on it. π
Jhuls
Thank you so much, Ivy. Sorry if I am responding to your comment very late. It slipped my mind that comments are automatically posted on this section (no need for my approval, I mean), so I am forgetting to reply to comments most of the time. π
Anyway, life has been so busy (again) and it’s frustrating not to answer comments for days and not to come back to regular blogging (and chatting)… but I am trying my best.
I admit I have not gone to your blog and to others as well, but I will try to keep up in the next few days and fix my schedule for everything in my life. Haha!
I am so glad to have you, Ivy. I hope you are in good health. Talk to you soon. <3
ivyon
That’s ok… We all wish we have more time for our babies blogs π Thanks for your wishes, I am very positive and looking forward to better and better health <3
Jhuls
Good to hear from you, Ivy. <3
saranmorrison
Yes they look incredible! And I wonder the same thing…what is it like not having been cooking since you were little? Where does the passion just spring from? I know my passion for food has been passed down from my grandpa but it passed it to me at such an early age!
Jhuls
I hope we could get answers, Sara. π Thank you for stopping by. π
Elaine @ foodbod
They look so cool!!
Jhuls
Indeed. Thank you, Elaine. <3
Susan Edelman
Wonderful!
Jhuls
Thank you, Susan. π
apuginthekitchen
Great guest post Ivy and love your plum dumplings. They really look delicious. You wrap the dough around the whole plum, love that.
ivyon
Thank you π
Jhuls
Brilliant, right? π Thanks for being here, Suzanne. <3
Chitra Jagadish
Wow scrumptious dumplings. ..loved the idea of using plums in dumplings. .. yummmm
Jhuls
Thank you, Chitra. <3 Have a lovely day.