Step 1

Fry the bacon, drain and set aside. Combine tomatoes, bacon drippings, water, salt, garlic powder, pepper and sugar in a pot on top of the stove. Bring to a boil, turn down to medium and cover.

Step 2

Cut shortening into flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add enough boiling water slowly stirring with a spoon until flour holds together and you can make into dumplings about the size of a walnut. I just pull off a piece of the dough and roll it into a ball with my hands. Remove top from pot with tomatoes and drop dumplings a few at a time into boiling tomatoes putting top back on each time. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes until dumplings are cooked. I usually get about 12 dumplings when I make them. Once cooked you can sprinkle with parsley and add crumbled bacon pieces to the dish. Makes about 6 servings