Chicken and Dumplings the perfect weeknight warm up

We are all freezing here! The cold air hurts your skin. We needed a stick to your ribs, warm you from the inside out dinner. I want to make Chicken and Dumplings.

We are trying to be thrifty this month. I used 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this dinner and it feeds 4 just fine. I poach them gently in plain old water. I have also used whole boiled chicken, left over rotisseri chicken and roasted bone in breast. Use whatever chicken you like.

I saw this in an ad once and made a vow to try it. I am not a food stylist and it is a busy weeknight. I used my veggie peeler and cut 2 long carrots into hearts. Com’on people–it’s Valentines Day.

2 chicken breasts, shredded, about 2 cups

1 packages Swanson Flavor Boost 

6 cups water or Chicken stock

2 carrots sliced

2 ribs celery finely chopped, leaves and all

Bring all the above to a gentle boil

Now for the dumplings. I have used many recipes but there is one, never fail, always on hand secret I keep….

Mix according to directions. 2 cup mix, 2/3 cup milk. I add 1/4 cup chopped parsley and 1 tablespoon black pepper. Mix lightly until just combined. Drop into your gently boiling pot. Cook uncovered first for 10 minutes–set a timer cause time flies. Cover, reduce heat to medium and cook 10 minutes more. DON”T lift the lid.

Bisquick tip…Keep it in the fridge. It will last longer and always work great. (it says so right on the box, I just started doing it!)

There is our warm, savory, comforting dinner.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Sincerely, Sara

♥ Don’t tell me sisters don’t think alike.

Hi, it’s me – the middle slice.

I made chicken and dumplings the same night.

We may have made the same dish at the same time but we prepared it a bit differently.

Here’s my version.

I ran to Aldi’s an hour before dinner, right after the kids got home from school and I set them up with a snack.

It was cheaper to buy a whole chicken than just the breasts. I’ll use the legs and thighs for another chicken dish this week. I boiled it with parsley, salt, pepper and some garlic powder (I put that on everything, no lie).

I too put carrots in this time. Normally I don’t. While I cut them up, I also cut up celery and we dipped those in kosher salt and crunched and talked about our day.

I used the Aldi “baking mix” for my dumplings. I mixed it with milk and black pepper and let it rise on the counter for 5 mins. I had already taken out the chick and worked on getting the breasts out. I added 4 bouillon cubes to the natural chicken broth and brought it to a roaring boil. I dropped in teaspoon fulls and covered with a lid. After 10 mins I lowered the heat and took off the lid.

It took a half an hour for it to cool down in the bowl so the kids could eat it. The house smelled so good and it tasted like a little hug. Dishes, finished up homework, baths, books and bed. I think we were all still full when we went to bed. Usually there’s a little asking for some snacks between baths and books.

Burpin’ Up, Amy