MY LIFE AS A DUMPLING

MY LIFE AS A DUMPLING…..and you ask what are you talking about? Allow me to clear the air, I am not expressing anything about my weight. I am somewhat fluffy and that may come into play in my blog post. I am a Southern Gal, but those who know me or have read my blog have heard that twang in how I express myself and I am proud to say I can make old fashioned dumplings.

How does this have anything to do with life? As I always see a life lesson in most every action in my days, I will share with you my thoughts as a dumpling. I will add a recipe for making dumplings so let me put on my apron and go into the kitchen of life.

Making Dumplings takes some preparation as does bringing a child into the world:

• Maybe making dumplings is a spur of the moment decision and you find yourself in the kitchen looking around to see if you have all of the ingredients which is equivalent of unexpected pregnancies. You may have to improvise if no time was allotted. That doesn’t mean your dumplings will not be as good as planned dumplings but it means simply it is on the spot cooking. I must have been an unplanned baby and I have never been the smoothly rolled out dumpling but more of an abstract, rough edged dumpling but still a good dumpling in the end.
• When proper planning, with all ingredients handy, rolling pin with lots of flour to prevent sticking, dumplings may look more uniform, same size, same thickness but to a tad a little boring. You may be scratching your head on my opinion of the cookie cutter type dumpling but you have met these “dumplings” in life. I have nothing against this type dumpling but they are not the trend setters, artists, motivational speakers, inventors, etc. When each dumpling is the same size and thickness as in life, a group of young girls or boys who feel they have to dress the same, wear the same brand of shoes, hair cuts, make up, jewelry, and speak the same and live in the same type houses, they become “squared dumplings”. It is very seldom that a square dumpling will rise differently than the other dumplings and even will stick together to where they are not eaten separately, but become a big glob of dough.
• Some keys or secrets to making and cooking dumplings are:

1.           Do not overthink dumplings. Dumplings, as are humans,  better with uniqueness and not how they measure up to others. Dare to be the one dumpling who wants to rise to the top faster, be the one that soaks up the gold liquid instead of worrying about drowning or being eaten by life. Go for it and be the dumpling that someone cannot wait for and they savor the taste your life as a dumpling has become.
2.          Hang around with other outstanding dumplings. Other dumplings, or friends who have the same dreams, inspire you to the top while those sticky dumplings, or people who are always trying to stick together or depend on others to be beside them are not the best dumplings. Break away from the needy and dependent dumplings or they will weigh you down to the bottom of the pot of life.
3.          Don’t stress my dear dumpling if it gets pretty hot. Dumplings need the heat because if the heat is not present, dumplings will become a gummy mess. Life is made to have the tense moments to complete the process or cause a mere dumpling made of nothing but a few ingredients to soak it up and rise. Many hot moments of life can create something so tasty you never forget the taste. It is the same thing for us human dumplings, we write or cook our life stories each and every day and fill our lives with seasonings or experiences. It is the same way the cook adds the extra flavor with the seasonings to the hot broth. Without those seasonings or life adventures, life would be hum-drum to say the least.
4.         Not all dumplings get eaten at the first meal. I think back to a song “Our Day Will Come“  (click on the song title and you will hear Ruby & The Romantics sing it) and I have experienced this part of life taking its time to give me an opportunity to do what I truly love to do by writing a blog for 6 years and publishing 2 novels and in the process of the third one. I must have been a little thicker and it took longer for me to cook through before I began to rise. Be patient if life makes you, my dumpling friend, a little thicker and it takes some time and more effort for your talents to develop.

    

   

   Here is a Southern Chicken and Dumpling recipe (not mine but a good one anyway):

   YIELD: 8 SERVINGS

   TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES

   PREP TIME: 30 MINUTES

   COOK TIME: 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES

   OLD FASHIONED CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

   Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings is a family favorite meal that is both comforting and delicious! This chicken and dumplings recipe is created from scratch including the tender dumplings and juicy chicken in an easy homemade broth.

   INGREDIENTS:

   BROTH

   • 1 chicken cut into pieces
   • 1 onion
   • 3 large carrots, cut into thirds
   • 3 stalks celery, cut into thirds
   • 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
   • salt & pepper to taste
   • bay leaf or a pinch of poultry seasoning (optional)

   DUMPLINGS

   • 1 3/4 cups flour (plus extra for dusting)
   • 1/3 cup shortening
   • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
   • 3/4 cup milk
   • 1/2 teaspoon salt

   OTHER

   • 4 tablespoons cornstarch
   • parsley for garnish

   DIRECTIONS:

   1. Combine chicken, onion, carrots and celery in a large pot. Season to taste.
   2. Add chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered 45-60 minutes or until chicken is tender. While broth is simmering, prepare dumplings below.
   3. Remove chicken and vegetables from broth. Discard skin and bones and chop remaining chicken, set aside.
   4.  Gently add dumplings to broth.  Simmer 15-20 minutes or until tender.
   5. Stir chicken (and vegetables if desired) into broth and cook about 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

   DUMPLINGS

   1. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and shortening with a fork until shortening is mixed in.
   2. Add milk a little at a time and mix until combined (you may not need all of it, you want a soft but not sticky dough).
   3. Knead a few times on a floured surface until dough is smooth.
   4. Generously flour your surface and roll the dough out to 1/8″ thick. Cut dough into 1″ x 2″ strips.  Flour generously to avoid sticking.
   5. Cook in broth as directed above.

   TO THICKEN BROTH (OPTIONAL)

   1. In a small bowl combine 4 tablespoons cornstarch with 4 tablespoons water.
   2. Add to boiling broth a little bit at a time stirring to reach desired consistency.

   NOTES:

   Carrots and celery can be served on the side or chopped and added to the broth along with the chicken.

   NUTRITION INFORMATION

   Yield: 8 servings, Serving Size:

   • Amount Per Serving:
   • Calories: 551 Calories

   (Nutriton information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)

   ©Holly Nilsson for SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

   Recipe Permalink: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/old-fashioned-chicken-and-dumplings/

 

Blogger’s note: I am proud to be a dumpling and I want to be the best dumpling I can possibly be. I want each and every dumpling like you to succeed. Be the best dumpling filled with savory taste and enjoy the moment you are recognized for your uniqueness.Now get in the pot and start rising dear dumpling friends.

(C) Copyright 2012-2018 Arline Miller of Sipping Cups of Inspiration with all rights and privileges reserved. Third party material is sourced, if known, to the original links and/or locations for credits.