Chicken and Dumplings

I found this recipe about a year ago.  The blog I found it on is no longer active, sadly.  But the recipe is seriously good.  And so easy to make!  I made this last night, and I always get huge compliments on it from the boys. 

I like to use my homemade chicken broth.  Also, you can sub cooked, shredded chicken for the chicken thighs, just add it with the peas.  YUM!

Chicken and Dumplings
adapted from thedishondelish

3 T butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup flour
1 quart chicken broth
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
1/4 t. dried dill weed
2 t. baking powder
1/2 cup
1/2 of a 10 ounce pkg. frozen peas

Heat butter over medium heat in a large pot. Add onion, carrots, and thyme. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup flour and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add broth and bring to a boil, stirring constantly; season with salt and pepper. Nestle chicken in pot; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make dumplings: In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining 3/4 cup flour, dill, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. With a fork, gradually stir in 1/2 cup milk to form a moist and soft batter. It should be just a little thicker than pancake batter and should easily drop from the tip of a spoon. (Add additional 2 tablespoons milk if too thick.) Set aside.

Stir peas into pot. Drop batter in simmering liquid in 10 heaping tablespoonfuls, keeping them spaced apart (dumplings will swell as they cook). Cover, and simmer until chicken is tender and dumplings are firm, 20 minutes. Serve.

Black Bean Soup

Several months ago, I found the most amazing recipe for Black Bean Soup on Smitten Kitchen.  You have to try this soup, it is unbelievable, especially with the toasted cumin crema.  I have made it several times, and it makes me swoon every single time. 

And it's meatless!  I'm not a vegetarian, but any soup that can deliver such great flavor without using meat has accomplished an incredible feat in my book!

Check out this incredible recipe!  You can thank me later...

and the secret smoothie ingredient is...

Just about every morning, I make a smoothie for breakfast.  It's fun to mix and match different fruits and flavors, and I like the variety.  A few years ago, my sister asked me if I had ever tried spinach in my smoothies.  Spinach, are you you kidding me?  I'm pretty sure those were my exact words!  I like spinach.  In fact, it's one of my favorite veggies.  But spinach blended with fruit?  

I ate those words pretty quick, right after I tried my first spinach smoothie. 

Let me show you how I like to make them:

 I start with soymilk.  But you could start with juice.  I don't recommend cow's milk or rice milk... I have tried both with less than yummy results...

 Add a handful of fresh baby spinach.  Don't use frozen, I love the stuff but this is NOT the right application for it!  I use a big handful, but start with a little if you're skeptical.

 Add the fruit of your choice.  Frozen banana slices are my favorite, but you could use any combination of fresh or frozen fruit.  I also like strawberries and blueberries a lot.

 Add a little sweetener.  I like this all-natural sweetener made from Stevia leaves.  It only takes a few drops.  You could use honey, sugar, or another favorite of mine, 100% fruit juice concentrate!

 Assemble your blender...

 And blend, baby, blend!

You're just gonna have to take my word on this one.  I KNOW how weird it looks.  But it is delicious, it is refreshing, and since spinach is a "superfood," you're adding tons of vitamins and some good fiber to the most important meal of your day.

When making this for the kids, I add blueberries.  They hide the green color and suspicions are avoided!

I think sometime I will try blending some spinach with eggs, then scrambling them for green eggs and ham.  the kids don't need to know it's not green food coloring that made their breakfast so fun!