CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

This was always a staple around our house as a kid. I think that my mom made this dish at least every other week!! It is a great way to get a ton of vitamins and nutrients without going way overboard on calories. This is a 'hearty' dish without giving you a hearty waistline!!  My family eats it up and it is perfect for a cold winter night!!

Clean Eating Chicken And Dumplings

(Makes approximately 5 quarts)

Stew Ingredients:

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (no sugar/dextrose added)

1 tablespoon marjoram

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts – cut into small chunks

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion – peeled and diced

4 large carrots, peeled and sliced

4 stalks celery, cleaned and sliced

1 cup peas, frozen works fine

1/2 cup corn, frozen is what I use

Dumpling Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup milk (any milk you typically use is fine. I use unsweetened almond milk.

Stew Directions:

Pour the broth into your crock pot (or into a large soup pot if cooking on a stove top).

Add the marjoram and garlic powder to the broth and turn the crock pot to high (stove top, bring to a slow boil)

In a pan, combine the olive oil, onion, carrots and celery. Saute until the onions are translucent.

Add the veggies and cut up chicken to the crock pot (or soup pot).

Dumpling Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk to blend well.

Pour in the oil and milk and mix with a wooden spoon.

(Be sure the broth is hot before adding the dumplings to the pot) Using two teaspoons, scoop up and round off your dumplings and scrap into your pot. (Just like making drop cookies)

Stove Top Directions:

Boil until the dumplings and chicken are cooked.

Slow Cooker Directions:

Cook this on high for about 3-1/2 hours. But if you need to cook it longer because you are leaving for the day (or cooking overnight), turn the slow cooker to low and cook until the dumplings and chicken are cooked through. (My guess is about 6 hours). It’s important to know how your slow cooker cooks here. Every slow cooker is slightly different.

Also, the dumplings will look a little odd after they have been cooking at the top of the stew all day. They create a sort of “crust-like” cover. Just break them up with a wooden spoon and stir them into the stew to finish cooking. Simply break one open to be sure it’s cooked all the way through.