Homemade Chicken and Dumplin's

March 6, 2013

Homemade Chicken and Dumplin's

I don't know about you but when people speak of comfort food one that comes to mind pretty fast is Homemade Chicken and Dumplin's! Yes I said Dumplin's, what can I say I guess it's what I have adopted from living in the south these past 4 years. This is the recipe I use and yes they are homemade, not out of a can drop in broth get super fat and chewy type Dumplin, these are handmade rolled out,sliced and just delicious type Dumplin! The result is a creamy chicken stew just perfect for those cold evening! 

Another reason I love this dish so much? It's simple! Nothing fancy is needed~just cooked chicken, flour, milk, butter, salt, baking soda and chicken stock! That's it, most of us have this on hand at all times! The best cooked chicken I prefer to use is a roasted chicken, left over rotisserie chicken is perfect too!

Ingredients:

2 C. Flour

1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 pinch of salt

2 tbsp. Butter

1 C. Milk, a bit less than a full cup

2 quarts Chicken Stock

3 cups Pre-cooked chicken

To make the Dumplin's:

In a large bowl measure out 2 cups of flour, a half teaspoon of baking powder, and 2 tablespoons of butter! Cut this in with your fingers and mix until the dough looks crumbly, sort of like making pie dough!

Then add a little less than a cup of milk and a pinch of salt!

Mix the dough together and then roll out on a heavily floured surface. Don't go easy on the flour, if you think you have enough add a pinch more! This is what is going to make your dish nice and creamy!

Once you have the dough rolled out, about a 1/4 inch, make long slices, either with a pizza cutter, a pastry cutter or just a plain ol' knife.

Then make criss crosses so you have cute little Dumplin squares, about 2"X2" some may be smaller and shaped funny but that's fine, it all tastes the same!

Bring your chicken stock to a boil and drop the Dumplin's in along with any extra flour on the working surface. Gently stir them but don't mash them. Add your frozen peas and carrots, they won't take long to cook!

Finally add your shredded roasted chicken, mix it up and serve!

Most people would think this takes 4 hours to make! When I made it I was in shock, it literally took me 30 minutes, start to finish including making the Dumplin's, rolling them out and slicing them! 

I hope y'all enjoy this as much as my family and I do!

HOPS of Spring Beer Festival!

For all you Locals and even visitors who enjoy Good Beer, come out and support HOPS of Spring Beer Festival!

Saturday April 27, 2013 From 12pm-6pm
The Town of Surf City will be hosting there Annual HOPS of Spring Beer Festival! It's the Official Beer Festival of the Topsail Region! Hosted by The Topsail Chamber.
Entry is $25 at the gate.
There will be Music, Craft Beer Samples and lots of fun Outdoors on the Island!
Call The Topsail Chamber for more details 910-329-4446!

Reversible Sling Bag

I wanted to share a project that is super easy and super cute! For years I have been wanting to teach myself how to sew. I mean yeah we all took home-ec in middle school and we all learned how to make some type of a pillow or something along those lines, but really who kept that with them after all these years?

So about two years ago I was feeling ambitious so I started searching the web for easy free sewing patterns. I wanted to make something that was worth my time. Something that was going to be useful not just something I'd attempt to make then let it just sit around collecting dust. I decided I'd like to make some type of a bag. Find some fun fabric and teach myself how to make it.

As I searched through the web, I came across so many things I wanted to make, but the reality was since that 7th grade class I really didn't use a sewing machine. To back up a bit, before this huge web search, I begged my husband to buy me a sewing machine. So yeah he did, so pretty much as soon as it arrived I began the search! I bookmarked everything I'd like to attempt making someday, so I could go back later and check them all out. I came across this reversible sling bag! As I read the instructions I felt good. It said it was the easiest bag to make and believe or not they weren't lying! This bag is the easiest, best little bag for a beginner like myself. So I wanted to share it with everyone because it turned out just as it was pictured and I was so proud!

After I made my very first bag, I literally made one for my daughter, sister and a friend of my daughters was visiting so decided to make her one. If I can do this believe me anyone can! So try it out here is what you will need:

Supplies:

1 yard of exterior fabric

1 yard of interior fabric

Printed pattern pieces + one piece of 8.5 X 11 paper

Scissors, pins, sewing machine, thread

Print the 2 pattern pieces.  Lay them and the extra piece of paper out like this:

 

Tape the pieces together without overlapping.

If you fold your yard of fabric in half again lengthwise, matching the fold from the bolt to the selvages, you can cut out both pieces at once.  BE SURE TO PLACE THE LONG EDGE OF THE PATTERN PIECE ON THE FOLD!!!

You’ll cut 2 pieces from your exterior fabric and 2 pieces from your interior fabric, so you’ll end up with 4 pieces that look like this:

The assembly instructions are the same for the exterior and the interior pieces.  All seams are 1/2”, unless otherwise specified.

Place pieces right sides together and sew side seams (indicated by the red lines).

Press seams open.

Line seams up (pin, if you want) and press flat.  Sew bottom seam, as indicated by the red line.

Next we’re going to box the corners.  Fold/press/whatever your corners like this:

The measurement along the green line is about 1.5”.  The measurement along the yellow line is about 3”.  I drew a line with a disappearing ink pen to follow when I sewed.

Sew along the line and then clip off the excess fabric.

Turn the exterior bag right side out and slip it inside the interior bag.  Match up seams and ends and pin.

Decide which one of the ends of the strap is going to be the “big” one.  You’re going to turn the entire bag right side out through this end.  There will be a moment when you’re not sure how it’s going to work out, but trust me, it will…just like child birth.   Mark it somehow.  I used 3 pins.

The other end of the strap will be the “small” one.  When you sew this end, you’re going to want to taper it *just* slightly.  The blue lines indicate the normal stitch line.  The purple lines are how you’re going to sew this end.

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I exaggerated the lines in this picture for illustration purposes. I’d start the taper about 1” from the end and taper in maybe 1/8” on each side.

Sew from the end of the strap, around the curve and up the other strap.  For some reason the picture or this step is missing, so I made you a super helpful illustration:

You’ll be sewing along the big U shape and leaving the green lines on the ends open.  Be sure to taper the “small” end.  Repeat on the other edge.

You can clip the curves a bit now if you want to.  I did on one bag and I did not on the other.  I found it didn’t make a whole lot of difference, so do whatever makes you happy.

Now you’re going to turn the whole thing right side out through the “big” end.

Go slowly and be sure things don’t get too bunched up.  You might need a buddy, but I promise this WILL work.

Press along the seams.

Take the “big” end and fold down approximately 1/2” to the inside.

Press.

Slip the “small” end inside the “big” end.

And stitch a cute little rectangle to hold everything in place.

And you’re done!
Thank you crapivemade.com

Salted Caramel Brownies Y'all!

Who doesn't love chocolate and caramel with a little salty twist? Sounds pretty amazing to me! I want to share this delicious brownie that has all three of those ingredients in one! Try them out, you will not be disappointed! Give us some feed back on the recipe and let us know if you try it out! It will also be posted on our Sweet & Savory Page and you'll get to enjoy more pictures there too!

Salted Caramel Brownies

I used my standard approach to salted caramel, but I dialed back the heavy cream so that it would be less soft, and therefore better able to hold up in the batter. The brownie is my one-bowl favorite, with less salt and sugar to compensate for the sweetness and extra salt in the caramel. The result is a soft, messy brownie that it much, much, much easier to cut neatly if placed in the freezer until semi-firm.

Makes 1 8×8 pan of brownies which you can cut into 16 2-inch squares, 25 smaller squares, 32 2×1-inch bites or a mess of hearts from a cookie cutter.

Caramel
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (or salted, but then ease up on the sea salt)
Heaped 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt (or 1/8 teaspoon table salt, more to taste)
3 tablespoons heavy cream

Brownie
3 ounces (85 grams) unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
1 stick (4 ounces or 115 grams) unsalted butter, plus extra for pan
1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
Heaped 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt or 1/8 teaspoon table salt
2/3 cup (85 grams) all-purpose flour

Make caramel: Set a square of parchment paper over a medium-sized plate. Lightly butter or coat the parchment with a spray oil, just as an added security measure.

In a medium, dry saucepan over medium-high heat, melt your sugar; this will take about 5 minutes, stirring if necessary to break up large chunks. By the time it is all melted, if should be a nice copper color; if not, cook until it is. Remove from heat and stir in butter. It may not incorporate entirely but do your best. Stir in cream and salt and return saucepan to the stove over medium-high heat, bringing it back to a simmer and melted again any sugar that solidified. Cook bubbling caramel for a few minutes more, until it is a shade darker.

Pour out onto parchment-covered plate and transfer plate to your freezer. Freeze until solidified, which can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes in a decent freezer to 40 minutes in my terrible one.

Meanwhile, or when your caramel is almost firm, make your brownies: Heat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment, extending it up two sides. Butter the parchment or spray it with a nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium heatproof bowl over gently simmering water, melt chocolate and butter together until only a couple unmelted bits remain. Off the heat, stir until smooth and fully melted. You can also do this in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each. Whisk in sugar, then eggs, one at a time, then vanilla and salt. Stir in flour with a spoon or flexible spatula.

Assemble brownies: When caramel is firm, remove it from the freezer and chop it into rough 1-inch squares. Gently fold all but a small amount of caramel bits into batter. Scrape batter into prepared pan, spreading until mostly even. Scatter remaining caramel bits on top. Bake in heated oven for 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool thoroughly — a process that can be hastened in the freezer, which will also produce cleaner cuts — and cut into squares or other desired shapes.

How to look good WITHOUT makeup

Ever had a morning when you just do not feel like putting on your face?? I have!
If you're like me and have been wearing makeup ever since you discovered bright blue eyeshadow in your mom's makeup drawer when you were a girl, you might not feel super comfortable without makeup on. Granted, I've toned down my color choices since then....for the most part ;)....but I still feel weird without at least a little makeup on. Anyone else??

Well over the years I've experimented with ways to achieve that bare-faced look, without feeling naked. Here are some ways to even out your skin tone, texture, and overall appearance so you can feel more comfortable without a bunch of concealer and foundation (that just clog your pores anyway)!

1. Wear Sunscreen
Single most important thing for beautiful skin. It's never too late to start!!
Tell me....why do we wear foundation? To cover up dark spots, even out skin tone, fill in wrinkles? All of these are results of sun damage. Women spend hundreds of dollars on anti-aging products, and then don't wear an SPF....silly. Every day our skin is susceptible to damaging UV rays, that over time cause uneven tone and texture, wrinkles and sagging skin! Ew! So put down your foundation and grab some tinted moisturizer with at least a 35 SPF. And don't forget your chest and hands! Ever seen those ladies with the pretty faces but their chest and hands look about 20 years older?

2. Drink (lemon) Water
When you're dehydrated, your skin is the first to show it. Keep your skin looking young and supple by drinking lots of water. Add lemon to up your Vitamin C! Vitamin C is what gives your skin that pretty glow, but we don't want the harmful affects that come with when we tan, so drink it! Also, taking an extra 1000mg of Vitamin C in the morning will help your body fight free radicals and eliminate toxins that can cause skin damage. I recommend eating within 15 minutes of taking this high of a dose because it can upset your stomach. Topical Vitamin C products can get pretty pricey, but taking it orally is much cheaper, plus the rest of your body will thank you for sharing all the benefits!

3. Exfoliate
One of the easiest ways to get your skin looking clean, smooth, and radiant is to exfoliate. When we don't exfoliate, dead skin cells build up. This leads to clogged pores, blackheads, pimples, rough texture....you get the picture. Since exfoliating helps increase cell turn over (the rate at which your skin makes new cells) it decreases the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. When we are young and have gorgeous skin, our cell turn over rate is about 28 days. Unfortunately, as we age that time increases by almost three! So our skin needs help speeding up the process. Exfoliating removes the dead cells that have built up, revealing smoother, younger looking skin!
I tell all my clients to exfoliate at least twice a week, but more is usually better. Just listen to your skin, if you start to feel irritated back off a couple days. My favorite type of scrubs are with jojoba beads. These little beads are smooth so they won't be too abrasive, and jojoba oil is super moisturizing. If moisture scares you, try making your own exfoliant by mixing equal parts baking soda and water. Let the mix sit on your face for 3-5 minutes while it dissolves the dead skin....yum! ;)

4. Glow!
A little color makes a big difference. But say no to tanning! You will thank me in 10 years when you have waaaay less wrinkles than all your sun-worshipping friends! There are too many sunless tanning options out there to still be soaking up all those harmful UV rays just for that pretty, well sometimes pretty, color. Come see me at the spa for a spray tan, or get yourself a bottle of sunless tanning lotion. My all time favorite is Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Instant Self Tan Lotion.

Square Foot Gardening

It's almost that time!!
Spring is finally around the corner! I've been waiting all winter to plant a vegetable garden, my first attempt last fall didn't turn out too great...but I got some experience and a feel for gardening and now I'm really exited for this season!

My mom got me a great book on Square Foot Gardening (SFG) for Christmas. You can find it here. The basic concept is growing more in less space. It's great for beginners like me because it's so easy to understand, easy to build, easy to plant, and easy to work!

It's fairly inexpensive because you're only building a 4x4 box, so you don't need to fill it with much, and won't be using a lot of lumber. And best of all it doesn't take up much space! One 4x4 SFG (16 square feet) will supply enough produce to make a salad for one person every day of the growing season. One more 4x4 will supply the daily supper vegetables. Or mix it up and plant a few lettuce varieties, and a few of your favorite veggies. You could, and should, plant 16 different crops!

Each square foot is planted with either 1, 4, 9, or 16 plants, depending on spacing needed for that plant. It's not necessary to plant in a row because you're still getting the right amount of spacing without wasting all that extra room in your garden. And since the garden is only 4x4, you can easily reach in from any side, so no need for aisles. The SFG is easier to maintain, easier to harvest, and prettier to look at. I'm really exited about planting mine!

Like I said earlier, I attempted last fall but it didn't turn out very great. It was fun at first and I got some great lettuce and broccoli out of it but then I neglected it and needless to say it died :(. This year I'm relocating it to a place that's easy to see from my kitchen window so that I can keep a better eye on it. I'll also be following Mel Bartholomew's book step by step. I highly recommend his book, it's super easy to follow, probably easier than I'm able to explain but I'll try!

So if you'd like to follow my second attempt at gardening, please do! I'll be posting all my steps, and you can find everything on the "Lauren's SFG" tab on the top of the page! Please leave me comments or questions! This is my first blog so any feedback would be appreciated!