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Something new... Chicken and Dumplings

Sometimes I like to try something new. It makes dinners so much less boring. The fall weather is upon us and I like to cook certain foods at certain times. My husband thinks I'm crazy! Why? because, I will only cook certain foods in the winter and in the summer. Think about it? would you eat soup in the summer? or macaroni / potatoe salad in the winter? I'm not saying that you can't. I just prefer not to. For some odd reason I wanted to try chicken and dumplings. I've had this befor when I visited my brother down south. but this is the first time I made it for my Family. My husband thought is was fabulous and my daughter loved it so much she had two helpings! I guess I will be adding this to my list of winter foods!

Ingredients:                                                                                      dumplings:

for the broth:                                                                              2 cups all purpose flour
1 whole chicken                                                                         4 tsp baking powder
3 bay leaves                                                                              1 tsp salt
1 onion coarsely chopped                                                           3 tbs butter
3 carrots cut in 2 inch pieces                                                      1 cup of milk
3 celery ribs cut in 2 inch pieces

6 boulion cubs                                                                           


1 cup half and half (substute: milk or heavy cream)                          
1 tsp pepper
water - enough to cover the chicken in the pot

Directions:
In a large pot. combine all ingredients for the broth. cover and boil for one hour or until chicken is tender. (the chicken should fall apart when you pick it up)

While the chicken is cooking prepare your dumplings. add butter and milk to a saucepan over a low heat until hot. mix dry ingredients in a bowl. add the hot milk and butter with a fork until it comes together like a dough. lightly flour a surface and roll out the dough about 1/8 inch thickness and cut the dough into one inch squares. place them on a dish. cover with clear wrap and refrigerate.

Remove the chicken when tender and place on the side to cool. drain the broth and disgard all vegetables and bay leafs. return the broth to the pot continue to simmer and add 1 cup half and half and your dumplings at this time. In a small saucepan on the side make a rue. melt one stick of butter on low heat and add 3 to 4 tbs of flour. stir until thick and golden brown and then add it to the broth. (this will thicken the broth)

Once the chicken is cooled remove it from the bone and place the boneless chicken back in the simmering broth. Simmer for a half hour or until dumplings are done. Add salt to taste.

I know it sounds a little complicated but it's not. It's just a little more involved. but believe me your family will love it. just make sure you start it early. this is not a quick and easy meal. give it some love and you will get the love back!

Tip: A quick and easy alternative ( A suggestion given to me from my brother). Instead of making the dumplings from scratch. buy pyllsbury buiscuts and roll them out cut into one inch squares.  also instead of adding the half and half and  making a rue. buy a family size can of cream of chicken soup and add that to the broth and this will also make it creamy. This will save you time.

Enjoy!

Lunchtime Favorite! Turkey sandwich with Avocado spread.

Avocado's were introduced to me by a co-worker. When lunchtime came around at work the most important and same question was asked. "What's for lunch?" Most of the time we would order from a local sandwich shoppe in town. a menu was faxed everyday. A co-worker would always order a salad with avocado or a turkey sandwich with sliced avocado on it. So, one day I thought I would be adventurous and order A turkey sandwich with avocado on wheat bread. Well! One bite and I was hooked! Ever since that day anything I ordered had to have avocado on it. I also make an awesome turkey and avocado sandwich. if you love avocado as much as I do you will enjoy my turkey and avocado sandwich. something that is fast and easy for lunch.

The first time I purchased an avocado. I was making a new recipe (tomatoes,fresh mozzarella,basil and avocado salad. I will share this recipe at a later date.) for a party I was hosting at my home. I had no idea the avocado had to sit in the sun and ripen (It takes days for that to happen!). It was hard as a rock! I was not happy. I take a lot of pride in what I make. OK, maybe a little anal and I always want things to be perfect! Is that a bad thing? according to my family, YES! I am told I become a crazy woman. (oh, well!) more stories later. My salad was served with hard avocado. Moral of the story... Never,never try a recipe for the first time when you are hosting a party. and sunbathe your avocado!

Camille's Turkey and Avocado spread on whole wheat bread



Maybe I should call this Avocado spread with a hint of smoked turkey! lol
The truth is I also eat the sandwich without the turkey. (very healthy)

Every time I ordered my sandwich it had sliced avocado on it and it would always fall out and get very messy. So I thought. (hmmm...) what if I make the avocado into a spread? and make the sandwich at home. One thing for sure. It saved me a ton of money! (my husband was happy about that! yay!)

 Ingredients;
Sliced smoked turkey breast. (amount of turkey is according to your preference.)
1 Avocado
1/2 tsp Mayonnaise
2 slices of whole wheat bread. (other options: white bread,sub roll,kaiser roll,or try a wrap! anything goes.)

Prepare;
Avocado Spread - cut avocado in half. take the pit out first.(makes it so much easier) spoon the avocado away from the skin. place it in a bowl and add the mayo. With a fork. mash the avocado and mayo together until its spreadable. It should be lumpy. Not smooth, but soft. another option is to add salt and pepper to taste. I like it straight up.

Directions;
Place your turkey on one slice of bread. add the avocado spread on top of the turkey. Place the other slice on top of the spread. Wha la!... It's done!

Tip: I place my avocado on my kitchen window sill so the sun warms the avocado to ripen it. when the Avocado changes colors from a bright green to a dark green or black color.And it's texture is soft to the touch not hard. It's ready! Also.



This is my Avocado tree



Fun for the kids: Take the pit of the Avocado. place three tooth picks in the center of the pit (tooth picks should be pointing outward). get a glass of water. place the pit on the glass. 1/2 the pit should be in the water. This method is the same thing we use to do with a potato when we were kids. (remember?) When a root starts to form. plant it in a pot and you will have a pretty avocado tree. Note: It will not produce avocados. pruning must be done for that. ( I will not go there. lol) You know I had to try this. and yes it works.

Would love to hear what you think about avocados or if you have any other recipe's that consist of  avocados. Please share.



Sister suggest blogging! (because of fried chicken!!) :o

I created this blog because of my sister. I posted a few pictures on facebook of cooked foods for my family. and I received some good responses. Friends and Family wanting the recipe. and telling me how good the food looked. Yesterday I cooked my sister-in-laws Southern Fried Chicken. My kids call it Aunt Pam's fried chicken. My SnL was born and raised in Louisiana. Southern fried chicken + Southern Belle = The best fried chicken you will ever eat! I posted a picture of the fried chicken and received a good response on how good it looked and friends and family wanting a good recipe for fried chicken. My sister posted that I should create a blog. I posted another picture a while back of my mothers meatballs. My kids call them Jeanoux's (means grandmother) meatballs. Most of the foods I cook have someones name attached to it! (crazy). Again I received post of how good they look. So I took my sister seriously and here I am. Thanks Ree! Maybe by creating this blog. I can forward a recipe or two or just meeting other people that has the same passion for cooking as I do. I would also like new recipes if anyone would like to share. or maybe just make someone smile and enjoy my blog.

Aunt Pam's Southern Fried Chicken

Ingredients;

6 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup Tony Chachere's creole seasoning. (substitute with another creole seasoning if not found)
6 eggs
1/4 cup half & half
Chicken parts ( my family prefers thighs and legs. I make one package of each. it's what ever you prefer.)
Vegetable oil (amount depends on what type of pan/pot used.) I use a deep cast Iron pot. which uses about 1/2 gallon of oil. the chicken should be submerged 1/2 way in the oil if not all the way for it to cook properly.


Prepare;
 I always soak the chicken in salt water. (all day until ready to cook. keep refrigerated). First and most important. prepare your pot with the oil make sure the oil is hot at 350 degrees. Mix flour and seasoning in a deep flat dish. Additional seasoning can be added according to taste. just be careful. Tony's seasoning is very salty and spicy hot. beat eggs and add half & half.

Tip- take a pinch of the flour mixture and drop it in the hot oil. If the flour bubbles you know the oil is ready for frying. Or sprinkle a bit of water in the oil and if it crackles! it's ready!!

Directions;
Submerge the chicken part in the egg mixer and then put it in the flour and coat it generously on both sides. (the chicken should be white from the flour) carefully and slowly put the chicken in the oil. depending on the chicken part and the frying method you are using depends on how long the chicken should cook. Thighs and Legs take longer than breast and wings.

Pan frying; about 8 min on one side and 6 on the other. Add a few more minutes to thighs and legs.
Deep frying; 15 min or when chicken floats to the top it's usually done. add a few extra minutes for the thighs and legs.

Drain the chicken on a rack with a cookie sheet underneath it. this method I found out works best. the chicken stays nice and crispy.

This is a simple but time consuming meal. take your time give it some love and have fun with it. the negative side of this is the clean up. I always wind up taking my stove apart to clean it because of the hot oil. It gets everywhere! (yuk)

Please let me know how it turned out and what you think of the recipe.

Enjoy Y'all!!!!