Tag: time management

Chicken and Dumplings: A Comforting Recipe for Stay at Home Parents

As a stay at home parent, it can be hard to find the time and energy to make a meal for your family. All too often, dinner becomes a last-minute scramble for something quick and easy. But there is nothing like a home-cooked meal to provide comfort and nourishment for everyone. Chicken and dumplings is one of those classic dishes that just warms your soul. With its delicious mix of flavors and textures, it’s a great choice for busy parents who want to give their family something special.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
• ⅔ cup milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Place chicken breasts in an oven-safe dish and bake for about 20 minutes or until cooked through. Once cooked, shred the chicken with two forks and set aside.
3. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add in the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add in the celery and cook for another 2 minutes.
4. Add in the chicken broth, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
5. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, butter, and milk until it forms a soft dough. Drop spoonfuls of the dough into the simmering broth mixture and cook uncovered for 15 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked through.
6. Finally stir in the shredded chicken and cook for another 5 minutes or until heated through before serving.

As I prepare this comforting dish of chicken and dumplings I am reminded of my grandmother’s cooking style: simple but packed with flavor from fresh ingredients from her garden or farm-fresh poultry from her husband’s coop down the road. She was always so proud when she could serve meals that she had cooked from scratch for her family—and now I can do the same for mine! Whenever I make my version of her classic dish it brings us all together around the table as we share stories from our day while savoring every bite of this special meal together as a family. This simple recipe has become one of my favorites to make for my family on busy weeknights because it always brings us all together around the table—just like my grandmother did so many years ago—and gives us something delicious to enjoy while we catch up on each other’s lives. Chicken and dumplings is more than just a meal—it is an occasion that celebrates all that is familiar, comforting, and good in our lives as stay at home parents!