Dumplings in the Mouth of the Recipient!

There are many different types of dumplings. And everyone has a different idea what a good dumpling taste like. There are my favorite, chicken and dumplings, also there are apple dumplings, blueberry dumplings, and yankee dumplings. (yes, that's right, yankee) Now it just doesn't seem right (being from the South) having dumpling and yankee in the same sentence but I was assured of the name yesterday. Some folks like dumplings thick, some thin, some pinched, some cut in tiny squares.  They were all represented yesterday at the Lebanon Fairgrounds. I met Ramona, my sister, who received a letter in the mail from the Wilson County Chamber asking her to enter in the Dumpling Cook-off.   She and I talked on the phone a number of times during the last 2 weeks and she finally decided to enter.  As I pulled up in Fiddlers Grove, she along with Rachel and Craig (Rachel's fiancee) arrived at the same time.  She seemed a little nervous and that was odd since she has cooked about a million dumpling in her lifetime. I know if I was cooking a dumpling I would be very nervous and everyone eating them would need to be nervous too.  (grin)  Anyway, she began to set up and I noticed some of the other tables had signs.  Well, not to be out done, I rushed out and got all the materials to make a sign.  Rachel made Ramona's sign and I must say it turned out well.
(Good job, Rachel!)

It reads, "Memories of Mama Kemp".  You see, Ramona has my mother, Osa Dillehay Kemp's  recipe and with a little adjustment to make it her own, Ramona is the Dumpling Queen in our family. 








Guests begin to arrive like Debbie (she isn't asleep) I think I just snapped at the wrong time.      (sorry Debbie!)    
Debbie is Ramona's DIL and her daughers came with her to join in the fun.                      

This is Rachel, Ramona's daughter, and Craig.  Rachel informed me she cooks dumplings all the time and make them like Ramona.  You go Rachel!

This is Dwight, Ramona's son.
You can see Ramona  was well represented by the family. 







And then of course, there is my friend from church, Teresa.  Thanks Teresa for coming out and supporting Ramona. 

 Ramona was getting her broth ready when suddenly she noticed her hot plate was not HOT.  We checked it out and finally decided it was the electrical outlet. I notified  the ladies in charge and asked them what to do.  They had already moved one table because of the outlet.

We moved Ramona's table to another location and before you know it, she was cooking again.


Ramona continued cooking and finally she was happy with the results.
And here they are. Yummy!







Judging took place at 2:00PM and at 2:30 they announced the winners. Well, Ramona didn't win.  I can't remember all the names but I do remember the categories that won..

First place:    Chicken and Dumplings (who by the way weren't any better than Ramona's (grin)
Second place:   Caramel Apple Dumplings 
Third place:  Are you ready for this?   Yankee Dumplings  Yep, the Yankees won again. (sigh)

Well, we all had loads of fun and here is the proof. 

I don't think Ramona was too disappointed her dumplings didn't win.  I sure hope she doesn't get discouraged enough to quit making dumplings.  Oh no, what will we do!  I know a lot of people at the Dillehay re-unions and Kemp family outings that will start a full fledge rebellion.  I guess we will have to blame it on the Yankees. (dumplings that is)