Apple Dumplings

For those of you who have yet to hear of "Pioneer Woman," you HAVE to check out her website! I first got hooked when my friend Ellen recommended reading the Pioneer Woman's love story of how she met her husband. The premise is that she was a city girl and he a cowboy (who she refers to as "the Marlboro Man"), but somehow they fell in love. It's a good read if you like sappy love stories! Make sure you start at the very beginning, though.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/category/the_night_i_met_marlboro_man

Anyway, the Pioneer Woman also has a recipe blog, which is where I found this recipe. Her recipes are great because she is a FABULOUS photographer and she takes a picture of every step of the recipe--great photos, great food.

I made this on the 4th of July and we had the dumplings with homemade vanilla ice cream--WOW! YUMMY!

Apple Dumplings
(The Pioneer Woman Cooks)
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/02/apple_dumplings/

2 Granny Smith apples
2 cans crescent rolls
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoons vanilla
cinnamon
1 small can Mountain Dew

Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.