Ingredients

  • 3 ounces goat cheese
  • 14 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 tablespoon green onion, finely chopped (reserve chopped green tops for garnish)
  • 14 cup fresh spinach, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 18 teaspoon ground nutmeg, measure
  • 1 12 cups Simply Potatoes Traditional Mashed Potatoes
  • 1 12 cups unbleached flour
  • 1 fresh egg, beaten
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon (6 for the gravy, 2 for garnishing)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 12 teaspoon allspice berry
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 14 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 14 cup red bell pepper, chopped
  • 14 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste
  • 14 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks
  • 2 tablespoons unbleached flour
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper

Method

  • Making the Goat Cheese Filling: Add all ingredients into a small bowl, blend together with a fork, and set aside in refrigerator.
  • Mixing together the Potato Dumpling Dough: In a large mixing bowl add mashed potatoes, flour, egg, along with salt and pepper.
  • Stir together with a wooden spoon or your hands into a thick, slightly sticky dough.
  • Dip hands in flour, as needed, and divide dough into 8 golf-sized pieces.
  • Dust with flour if needed, flatten each piece and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
  • Assembling the Potato Dumplings: On the center of each piece of flattened dough spoon a heaping teaspoon of goat cheese filling.
  • Fold dough, like a taco, encasing filling in the dough, then roll into a ball.
  • Roll in a bowl of unbleached flour, dust off, and place back on the sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
  • Let rest in refrigerator, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes.
  • (Note: Spread any leftover goat cheese filling on a water cracker -- truly a tasty treat for the cook :).
  • Preparing the Country-Style Bacon Gravy: Place bacon strips on a baking pan covered with foil.
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Cool, crumble, and set aside on a plate lined with paper towels.
  • In a small saucepan, stir together milk, chicken broth, whole allspice, and bay leaf.
  • Over high heat, bring this mixture just to steaming, immediately turn to low and steep liquid with spices, stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat to sizzling.
  • Toss in onions and red peppers, stir to coat with olive oil.
  • Sweat veggies, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Turn heat to medium, add red pepper flakes, garlic, butter chunks, and stir until butter is melted.
  • Sprinkle flour over the veggie/butter mixture and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, so mixture does not stick or burn in the saute pan.
  • Strain the spices from the milk and chicken broth.
  • Now, vigorously whisk in 1/2 of the hot liquid into the veggie/flour mixture; sauce will thicken.
  • Pour in the remaining hot liquid, continue to occasionally whisk over medium heat until thickened and heated through (do not bring to a boil).
  • Remove from heat, mix in the 6 slices of crumbled bacon, and cover loosely with plastic wrap.
  • Cooking and Serving the Potato Dumplings: Over high heat bring a large pot of water to boiling; add a pinch or two of salt, if desired.
  • Turn down to medium high heat, carefully drop in the prepared potato dumplings, give the boiling water a stir to make sure potato dumplings are not stuck to the bottom of the pot, and then tightly cover the pot.
  • Boil for 15-20 minutes (the light and fluffy dumplings will float to the top).
  • With a slotted spoon, scoop out the potato dumplings into bowls, smother with 1/2 cup of the hot bacon gravy garnished with bacon crumbles and chopped green onion tops.
  • Steamed carrot coins or a green salad compliment this dish nicely as a side.