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1
Place the cheese in some cheesecloth or several layers of paper towels and let it drain for 5 to 10 minutes, pressing gently, to remove excess moisture.
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2
With a mixer, beat the cheese until smooth.
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3
Add the egg and continue to beat until incorporated.
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4
Sprinkle in the sugar and salt, and then gradually add the flour; continue to mix until a dough begins to form.
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5
Add the melted butter and mix just until the dough holds together when patted with your hands, it will look pretty wet.
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6
Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for several hours or up to overnight, the dough will stiffen as it chills.
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7
Using a knife, make a slit down the seam of the apricot and carefully pull out the pit, keeping the fruit in tact.
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8
Stick a sugar cube inside the apricot where the pit was and squeeze the apricot back together to close it up tightly.
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9
The sugar cube melts inside the apricot when you cook it.
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10
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
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11
Lightly flour a rolling pin and work surface.
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12
Roll the dough out into a thin circle and cut out 12 circles with a 4-inch ring cutter.
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13
Place an apricot in the center of the dough and carefully bring the edges together to completely enclose the fruit and form a dumpling; make sure there are not any tears or holes in the dough.
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14
Working in batches, gently lower the dumplings into the simmering water; they should not be touching or crowded.
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15
Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes; the dumplings will sink to the bottom of the pot and then rise to the surface.
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16
Carefully remove the dumplings from the water with a strainer.
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17
In a large nonstick skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
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18
Add the bread crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon, cook and stir for a couple of minutes until the bread crumbs are toasty and golden.
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19
Lay the bread crumbs out on a sheet pan or plate and roll the apricot dumplings in the browned crumbs to coat evenly.
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20
In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, brown sugar, and lemon juice together.
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21
Serve the apricot dumplings with the sweet-sour cream sauce on the side and a dusting of confectioners' sugar if desired.
