Jennifer'S Herb Dumplings

Method

1. I

   Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.

2. II

   Rub in the butter with your fingers until crumbly.

3. III

   Mix in pepper, parsley, onion and thyme (or use basil or rosemary, whatever you fancy).

4. IV

   Beat the egg well in a small bowl, and add. Stir in roughly.

5. V

   Now add just enough milk to make a sticky dough -- not too wet, not dry, just sticky enough to stick to your fingers.

6. VI

   The soup (or meat stew with a lot of sauce) should be simmering. Drop in dessertspoons of the dough, scraping it out of spoon with a finger, into the soup.

7. VII

   Cover the pot. Simmer 20 minutes. By now the dumplings should be cooked.

8. VIII

   Take off the lid, and simmer for a further 5 minutes or so, so that the tops of the dumplings dry a little.

9. IX

   Real comfort food on a cold night!