1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 tlbsp butter
6 whole pears peeled and cored
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup milk
Combine sugar, water,cinnamon, and nutmeg in pot. bring to a boil. add butter. set aside
sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening. Add milk all at once and stir until moistened. Roll 1/4 inch thick on floured surface, cut into 6 inch squares.
place 1 pear in the center of a square. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. dot with butter. Fold corners to center and pinch together all edges to seal. Place 1 inch apart in a 11x7 baking pan. spoon syrup over dumplings. Sprinkle with sugar. bake at 375 for 35 minutes. Serve hot with vanilla icecream.