Step 1

Place the blackberries and sugar in a medium saucepot with 1 cup water, and bring to a boil over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, until it thickens to a sauce. Reduce the heat to low and keep the blackberries warm as you make the dough.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl stir together the flour, salt, sugar, and vegetable shortening with ¼ cup water. Add more water, ­up to ¾ cup, as needed until the dough is loose and soft enough that you can scoop it out with a spoon.

Step 3

Increase the heat of the blackberry pot to medium.

Step 4

Scoop 1 teaspoon dough at a time and drop it into the saucepot of blackberries.  When the dough rises to the top of the blackberry sauce, use a tablespoon to turn it so the dough cooks evenly as it hardens. Drop in as many teaspoons of dough as you can at the same time, but leave a little room between them for the dough to swell. When all the dough is turned and has the consistency of a doughnut, the blackberry dumplings are ready to eat.