#704 - Schnitz and Knepp

(by Grandma Pauline (Tharp) Herman)

1 - 3lb. ham end
2 quarts ham broth (you'll get this from cooking the ham)
4 cups dried apples (these are called "schnitz")
2 TBSP brown sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
2 cups flour
1 beaten egg
2 TBSP melted butter
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
milk, enough to make the dumplings ("knepp") stiff

Wash the dried apples in cold water--place them in a bowl, cover them with cold water, place saran wrap on the top and let them sit on the counter overnight. Cook the ham end with water for about 3 hours until it's tender. Pour the ham broth into a large container. Measure out 8 cups (which makes 2 quarts) and pour it into a Dutch oven--if you don't have enough to make 8 cups use water as a substitute. Cut the ham into bite sized pieces and add to the broth in the Dutch oven. Drain the apples and add them to the ham/broth. Bring to a boil, then boil for 1 hour (stir every 15 minutes or so). While the ham/apple mixture is cooking, make the dumplings (knepp)--in a bowl add flour, salt, pepper, and baking powder--stir. Add the beaten egg-stir. Add melted butter--stir. Add enough milk to make the batter stiff. After the ham/apple mixture has boiled for an hour, add the brown sugar and stir. Drop tablespoonsful of the dumpling dough into the ham/apple mixture. Put a lid on the Dutch oven and cook for 15 minutes over medium heat (DO NOT take off the lid before the 15 minutes are up or the dumplings will fall and get heavy). Serve.