Ah, The illustrious chicken and dumplings. For those of you who may not know, chicken and dumplings is:
- A staple of the South and Midwest-one of the "southern comfort-food" dishes
- A French Canadian meal that originated during the Great Depression (Thanks Wikipedia)
- Paula Dean's Middle name
I live in Oklahoma now, which is somewhere between the South and Midwest so I thought I would attempt this recipe for the experiment.
Chicken and Dumplings according to some recipes, uses chicken broth as the main "stock" to build the dish on. I open the pantry and realize that I have vegetable broth, but alas, no chicken broth. I almost hopped in the car to go get some. Then realized that, guess what? It would break a rule. So I suck it up and move on.
Creating your own chicken stock is kind of a strange process. I tossed a chicken into a pot, added water and realized that the result would probably be chicken flavored water.
This part right here....is why I am kind of liking this experiment. I googled a bunch of C&D recipes to see how to fix this. Recommended- Chicken cubes (ew, that just sounds gross) can be a substitute. I lack chicken cubes. Then I had a realization- Who says you even have to follow a recipe?
I open the pot again. I toss in: celery, carrots, chopped up onions, thyme (a little), a bay leaf, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and some salt. Then, just because I can, I add a can of sweet corn....Take that Paula!!
(Please note that I have yet to eat this concoction. It could actually really suck)
This chicken creation is currently simmering in a pot on the stove top as I type. I plan on making some dumplings (because let's face it, I have not one but two unopened bags of flour in the pantry) And if this works, I have dinner for maybe a few nights.... If this works. It could turn out like the smoothie incident.
And if it does, feel free to call me a Bragging Deviant Loser who should just leave Southern dishes to people who really do say ya'll...
Before...
After... (ps- I am not a bragging deviant loser...take that Paula!)
this sounds like it could be a winner! i hope it works because i have never made chicken and dumplings but now i have hankering to try!
ReplyDeleteim loving this blog--it makes me feel closer to you :)
I just found yours! I am SO excited for you and, I will admit it...totally jealous!
ReplyDeleteI love this experiment--but I am not loving your Paula Bashing ;) Luckily, I'm making my classes read her memoir this semester, so we can counteract your anti-Paula sentiments!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could be like you and not need a recipe to make something that was edible! (And I like eating way too much to embrace the possible weight-loss that would come with the inedible ones!)
Hold up lady...I love Paula Dean...
ReplyDeleteHonestly Beth, it's really about allowing yourself to be spontaneous. I am one of the most uptight and un-spontaneous people I know haha...but, if I means that I toss some stuff in a pot, then it means I toss some stuff in a pot. I have to learn that it's just that pot...it's not life or my future. It's one meal :) (believe me- this is something I have to literally give myself permission to do...I am a rule follower)
How's that for theoretical ;-)
ps- I really do love paula dean