homemaking

I thought you might like to try this recipe, which is perfect for fall. But first, an update or two.
1. I took my computer to the Apple Genius Bar last week. I have a MacBookPro and it is broken (physically) from possibly overextending it when it’s open and as a result, it won’t close. The estimate for fixing it, you ask? $900. Yowza. So I did what you would have done. I brought it home broken and searched the house for duct tape. It’s almost three years old so we’ll probably just check into getting a new one here soon. The genius bar let me down. That’s a first.
2. I went into Sephora while reading all your emails and suggestions for perfume.      After a dizzying amount of spraying and smelling,  I ended up with ‘Amazing Grace’ which I like (love the name too!). And I was roped into trying a new one called Lady Million. Now here’s where my wild layering tendencies come out. I don’t like Lady Million on it’s own. But I love it mixed with Amazing Grace. And I ALWAYS mix perfumes. Always. So that’s the update on my perfumery.
3. I’m making this sign, which I saw on Julie’s blog. Except I’m using Clover Green paint from Benjamin Moore, which I saw on Angela’s blog and Bob Dylan lyrics from this song, which is ‘our song’.    I think it’s gonna be pretty darn dazzling but oh my, is it huge?!    I’m sure you’ll see it before too long.
4. I’ve been a teeny bit sickly with the weirdest viral concoction. Here are my symptoms: malaise to the point of ‘I’m too tired to brush my teeth’, headaches, R sided facial/jaw/ear/throat pain. {Please don’t diagnose me:)} But to add insult to injury, I just had dental work on the R side and now my TMJ is raging from having my mouth pried open to maximum capacity with metal instruments AND now I have a mouth ulcer. I’m living on motrin and a soft diet. This is what it’s gonna be like to get older, isn’t it?
5.  Thank you for the wonderful myriad of encouragements you gave me after this post. I had the hardest time hitting ‘publish’ on that one. I should have known you’d be gracious. You always are.

Okay, okay.   Chicken and dumplings. I didn’t forget. I’m trying to uphold my reputation as the queen of butter and cream.  This recipe is my version of the one that was posted in Cuisine At Home a few years ago.   I grew up with drop-type dumplings but this recipe has thick noodle-like dumplings.  Feel free to substitute with your own drop dumplings

You’re welcome.

Chicken and Dumplings

for the soup:

In a large dutch oven, add 4 T. butter and a little olive oil,  sweat the veggies and then add the flour.

1 large onion, diced

3 carrots, chopped

2 stalks of celery, chopped

3 sprigs of thyme, strip stems and use leaves only

1 t. fresh rosemary and sage, minced

the zest of one lemon

2 T. honey

1 T. apple cider vinegar

small sprinkling of red pepper–less and 1/4 teaspoon

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 c. flour, add after veggies are starting to soften and then cook for one minute before deglazing the pan.

Deglaze the pan with:

1/2 cup white wine

2 boxes of chicken stock.  I like this kind, very flavorful and not too salty

1 cup milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 cups of cooked chicken

1 cup of frozen peas

re-season with more salt to taste and I added just a little squirt of sriracha.  just a little.

for the dumplings:  (I decreased the salt but o/w this is exactly the recipe from Cuisine at Home.)

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 t. kosher salt

1 t. baking powder

1 egg

1 cup of the ‘soup’ part of the mixture you just made.   I just took a ladle and was careful not to get chicken and peas etc.

Mix the above ingredients into a dough and then roll it out to 1/8 in thick. on a well-floured surface and  cut the dough into strips (approx. 1×4″ strips) and then add them to the simmering soup.  I made mine a little too thick so don’t be shy to roll that dough out pretty thin.     Don’t add them all at once but instead, cut a few and add them slowly.  When they’re all added, stir and then cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

I’m also making this applesauce cake recipe into cupcakes and adding caramel icing to the top.   I saw something similar earlier this week and it sounded so perfect for fall!  The mom who made them added popsicle sticks so that they looked like caramel apples.  Only better!

Happy Weekend!