Winter time...lets get the big pots out....

I know you guys are wondering what is going on no food blogs Dee, you okay...lol. Actually I have been busy with the kids and trying to get business things in order and really could not think of a good topic to talk about. I realize it is better to write when I am feeling it than to force any random topic. A good friend of mine said talk about what you are passionate about not just any old thing just to have something on your blog....thanks my friend.

Now back to the blog, it has been rather cold out and the weather is all over the place. It is time that you are wanting those comfort foods that warm you from the inside out and make you remember things about your childhood that were amazing.  I remember wintertime when my sisters and I were kids, my mom use to make some of the most delicious soups and stews. It is just something about her cooking it with love that made it taste like it was worth a million bucks. I also remember the very few times in my childhood when it was cold enough to snow my mother would do everything she could to ensure we were warm. She would bundle us up extra before we left the house. She would have all the gas stoves on and so the house was amazingly toasty and warm when we got home. What I loved the most was she would take the iron and iron our sheets before we got in bed. Now that felt so good and you stayed nice and warm just long enough for you to fall asleep. Our childhood was far from perfect by most standards, but it was perfect enough for us. We had fun. We played, loved, and laughed hard. It was the foundation of what made us the women we are today. For that I thank you Momma. I love you Terressa Holcomb. You are one of the most amazing women I have ever known and I am thankful to God that you are my mother.

I am going to post a recipe today for one of my favorite winter time meals, chicken and dumplings. I love chicken and dumplings. My kids are not as big of fans of the dumplings but they are kind enough to not complain and eat it when I make it...lol.  I appreciate the fact they are willing to try anything I cook. They will thank me later...lol. Take a minute and check out this recipe and let me know how you like it. Feel free to comment or make suggestions. As always in parting I say, "Let's Eat"!

Chicken and Dumplings:

Ingredients
1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
6 cups chicken broth
1/2 bunch thyme
1 bay leaf

Dumplings:
2 cups all-purpose flour
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons salted butter
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley leaves
1 teaspoon finely chopped thyme leaves

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
2 ribs celery, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
3 cloves finely chopped garlic

Directions

In a very large saucepan or Dutch oven, add chicken, chicken broth, thyme, and bay leaf to cover. Turn on heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. *Cook's Note: You'll want to poach the chicken on a low simmer and start with cold stock so the chicken cooks evenly.  Once the chicken is cooked, transfer to a 13 by 9-inch casserole dish and let cool. Reserve broth and discard the thyme and bay leaf. When chicken has cooled, shred. Use your hands or a fork and make sure to get all the meat off the bone. Discard the skin and bones.

Dumplings:
Add flour, salt and pepper, to taste, and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk together. In a small saucepan, bring heavy cream, butter and herbs to a low simmer then add to the dry ingredients. Stir with a rubber spatula until combined. Using your hands, form dough into dumplings.

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat and add oil. Once oil is hot, add onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Saute until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add reserved broth to Dutch oven with vegetables and add the chicken. Bring to a low simmer. Add dumplings 1 at a time into the simmering soup. Cover pan with a lid and cook for 25 minutes. Add salt and pepper, to taste, if necessary.