Thanks for all the responses! Only one sounded like ours. These were stewed tomatoes (usually whole, home canned), no sugar) and actual dumplings - not bread. The recipes sent by Janet from Google are the right idea. Our dumplings had no shortening, however. The dumpling recipe was my grandmother's (English/Dutch). Perhaps the tomato/dumplings came from my father's side. He was German. Mother also served stewed tomatoes as side vegetable, no additions,(bread, butter, or sugar) but we did like to add sugar at the table. We also ate canned tomatoes cold as vegetable. Couldn't convice my husband on the last one, so I've served them hot the last 45 yrs. Lynn

I am just coming in on the tail end of these conversations. A few years ago I copied the information below as something fun to add to my histories as my sisters in law love sweets. Unfortunately I only commented that I found it on line and I don't remember where I saw it. I have not tried it but it sounds good. >>CHOCOLATE GRAVY; I take about 2-3 tablespoons of butter (real butter is best) and melt it over low heat. Combine about 2-3 tablespoons of Hershey's Cocoa and about 3 tablespoons of flour and 1/2 cup of sugar (more or less, depending on how sweet you want it. I sometimes start with a little less.) Stir together to mix and put in with the melted butter and cook just a little to get the flour taste out. Add milk, a little at a time and keep stirring so as not to let it lump. Amount of milk depends on how thick you want your gravy. Not too thick because you want it so that you can sop your biscuits in it. You can add a smidgen of vanilla if you like. When it is done, spoon over hot buttered homemade biscuits and enjoy. Of course at our age, have to watch all of the fattening things, but it is so good in the morning.<< >>And from another; Ah yes, chocolate gravy. I grew up in the boot heel of Missouri and my parents were from Tennessee. Every morning of my young life there was chocolate gravy and biscuits along with milk gravy and biscuits on the table for breakfast. On weekends when the woman folk were not in the cotton fields, there would be fried potatoes to go with it.<< Beverly Carter [email protected] -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.1/611 - Release Date: 12/31/2006 12:47 PM