Mike and I were recently snowed in due to some crazy winter weather. Over a period of a couple days we had over three feet of snow dumped on us and there was even thunder and lightning! (See below for some snowy pictures.) I didn’t mind for three reasons: it was a gorgeous winter wonderland out there, I got to spend time alone with my hubby (what’s more romantic than being snowed in with your love?), and I got to make one of my ultimate comfort foods – chicken and dumplings – for dinner. It was absolute perfection.
On an entirely different note (but also completely related to this time of year), the wonderful people at CSN recently contacted me to sponsor a giveaway. The prize is a $65 gift card to use on any CSN website. If you’re new to CSN, I encourage you to check out their site…they have everything from shoes to stools to sling backpacks. And with Christmas just around the corner I love internet shopping…how else could I manage to shop in my pajamas while snowed in, avoid the mad rush, and be able to bake cookies at the same time I’m shopping?
To participate in this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post telling me if it snows where you live. This giveaway ends December 13, 2010 at 9PM EST; after that, the winner will be determined randomly and notified by email. Good luck to all!
(Yield: 4-6 servings)
6 c low-sodium chicken stock
1 medium-large onion, diced
3 medium-large carrots, diced or cut into rounds
2 large stalks celery, diced
1 bay leaf
2 tsp minced fresh thyme
1/4 tsp dried, powdered sage
2 TB all-purpose flour mixed with 1/4 c water to form a flour slurry
2-3 c cooked, shredded chicken
1 c frozen peas, thawed
1/4 c minced fresh parsley
Salt and pepper
Dumplings:
2 c all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
3 TB trans fat-free vegetable shortening (such as Crisco)*
1 c milk
In a 5-quart pot with a lid, combine chicken stock, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf, thyme, sage, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper. Bring up to a boil, whisk in the flour slurry, and turn heat down to a simmer. Cover the pot (leaving the lid slightly ajar) and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients for dumplings; use a fork to cut shortening into flour; do not completely combine shortening and flour, there are some larger pieces about the size of peas. With a wooden spoon, stir milk into flour/shortening mixture, being careful not to overmix.
Drop dumpling dough by slightly heaping tablespoonfuls into simmering soup; cover and cook about 10 minutes, until dumplings are puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean. Stir in chicken, thawed peas, and parsley, and cook a couple minutes until warmed throughout. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.
*I used shortening so the dumplings would have a light, fluffy texture; I haven’t tried it, but you could probably use butter instead of the shortening if you prefer.
And So It Begins (As a point of reference for how much snow we got, my car is the one in the front on the left.)
The Next Day…But It’s Not Done Yet (My car is in front…it’s getting buried!)
The Third Day (All that can be seen of my car is the mirror!)
I Had to Go Down For a Close Up of My Car
The View Off My Balcony
A Winter Wonderland
Time to Warm Up…
i live in texas and it doesnt snow where i live.
tcogbill at live dot com
All we get are snow flurries!!!! I wish for snow every year!!! I cannot wait to try the Chicken & Dumplings recipes looks yummy..
Tennessee here
acouponaddict at charter dot net
It doesn’t snow where I am now, but it sure snows in the place I left!
It snows tons here in Michigan!
It snows here but not much and usually Feb-March. The whole area comes to a standstill when a few flakes drop but the city doesnt have much in the way of snow removal/control and it is hilly here. We did have a white Christmas once time that I remember. Loved it!
yes! We live in Colorado, and I’m so glad it snows :)
It doesn’t snow much. It used to but it sure doesn’t anymore.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com
Yes, it snows here! I live in Oklahoma!
Yes, it does snow in the mountains in southern California, and looking forward to try this recipe after skiing! Comfy and yum!
Oh my, one of my all-time favorite cold weather dishes, but you beat me to it – because it doesn’t snow here :) Actually, it has been cold enough here in SoCal for me to make this, but NO ONE is home for me to cook for this week :(
While it has not snowed here this year (yet) we do get snow in Missouri. Entirely way too much if ya ask me! I love the first snow of the year, but after that I’m over it lol! Gotta admit that being snowed in with hubby might now be all that bad though :)
Thanks for the giveaway!
That chicken and dumpling soup looks goregeous! It is on my to-do list this winter.
We typically don’t get a ton of snow in DC but last year we were pounded with a blizzard. It was actually a lot of fun b/c everything shut down and I got a whole week of snow days!
Yes, it does snow sometimes in Western Washington State! This year we have already had a Thanksgiving snow/ice storm, been just cold since then though!
Mmmmmm, chicken and dumplings!
Holy snow!!! WOW! And yes, it’s snow’s where I am. I am in Canada after all! LOL Chicken and dumplings…..it’s been WAY too long sonce I’ve had that for a meal….
It does not snow in Miami (unless you count the trucked in stuff they often have at malls this time of year), but we do currently have a windchill of 39F, so it is quite wintery!