THE CHALLENGE:

In 2012 we challenged you to write 12 letters of Gratitude to people that influenced your life. Many of you did this and wrote amazing stories of the experience.
This year 2013 we are focusing on BEING PRESENT. This is your life. Each day is a gift. You can't turn in yesterday for more time. So make the most of each day and continue to be grateful and embrace life! Be Present! We are changing the world...ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

More HOMEMADE love...on the kitchen stove

Today I made Chicken and Dumplings...

(So I looked up the recipe from the last time I did this...on my other blog...here was the post the last time I made them.  I didn't have all the fresh ingredients in February.  But I am sure it will still be good.  The house smells so yummy!!!)
Lately I have been missing my mom fiercely.  Today, I made chicken and dumplings. Cooking things she cooked makes me feel closer to her. Each time my recipe has gotten a little better. Mom used to use canned chicken broth. But when one of my sisters came to help me when my last baby was born she taught me how to make my own.

So here is my chicken and dumplings recipe...and not to toot my own horn, but this batch was awesome! I wish I had made a double batch ;)

First I buy two rotisserie chickens. We eat all the meat off the first chicken for dinner and save the carcus. The next day I boil the carcus in a pot of water. This time it was so much better...what I did differently was I boiled it on medium for about two hours. Then I strained it. I then added all the meat (I de-bone-ed the other chicken meat), that I removed and finely chopped).
To this large pot of broth and chicken, I added 1/2 a large finely chopped white onion, (fresh) finely diced handful of chives, Basil (fresh) about 6 leaves chopped tiny. I brought all this to a boil and seasoned it as I like...pepper, sea salt, no salt (costco), and crushed more dried basil into it. After it was boiling I added several cups of chopped baby carrots and a couple finely chopped stalks of celery. I let this boil until the carrots were tender. Then I added 2 cans of drained peas. Although frozen peas would work as well. Then I made 1 1/2 servings of biscuits on the bisquick box recipe. Then a little trick my mom taught me...before adding the water I seasoned the bisquick with sea salt and pepper...and then something mom didn't teach me, but I do...I add a little cinnamon, it gives the dumplings a pick me up. Then add water and mix. I take a teaspoon and scoop out a spoonful, more than a golf ball, less than a baseball and plop it into the boiling mixture. Keep up the pace as quickly as you can, so they cook evenly. Add all the dumplings and then cover and turn the heat down a notch or two. Wait a few minutes and then carefully take a fork and turn them over to cook on the other side. It was so yummy, my mouth is watering as I write this. So come visit me and I will make you chicken and dumplings, I just need two days notice.

Changing the world...ONE letter at a time!

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