Croatian Plum Dumplings

Croatian plum dumplings - knedle s sljivama - are made with mashed potato dough and can be eaten as a dessert when sprinkled with sugar, as a meatless main course, or as a starch accompanying a meat dish. Plum dumplings are common throughout Eastern Europe among Poles, Hungarians, Romanians and wherever plums are plentiful. The small damson plum is preferable, but Italian prune plums will work fine.

Ingredients:

• 3 medium potatoes (peeled, boiled, mashed and cooled)
• 2 large eggs (beaten)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 16 damson or Italian prune plums, washed and pitted
• 16 sugar cubes
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• Optional garnish: confectioners' sugar (or granulated)
• Optional garnish: cinnamon