Michaelmas Dumplings
Old Michaelmas Day - 10th October: Since the calendar change in 1752 Michaelmas Day has been celebrated on 29th September. Prior to that is was celebrated on 10th October. Devil’s Spit Day! According to legend, blackberries should not be picked after this date because on this Day St Michael threw the Devil from Heaven. His fall from grace landed him in a blackberry bush and he cursed and spat on the brambles. I fell into several blackberry bushes as a child, I know how he felt.
So 10th October is your last chance to gather blackberries for this lovely and simple to make recipe. I didn’t have high hopes for this recipe as even the word “dumpling” sounds like the dessert bowl will be hard to lift. As it turned out these are quite light and made a lovely change from Apple Dumplings which I find too large to get through in one sitting.