Here in Nashvlle, there’s a nip in the air. (Well, considering it was pushing 100 not very long ago, upper 60’s is almost a blizzard). I’ve been waiting for cooler weather, so I can start making cooler-weather dinners. My “big three”, as it were: chili, beef and barley soup, and my famous chicken & dumplings. I don’t have any ground beef (or Archer Daniels Midland beef-type-substance), so tonight, I’m making chicken and dumplings.
It’s one of the few things I can say that I cook as well as my mother.
Now, C&D is that kind of dish that causes arguments over the best preparation method. Roll the dumplings out, or make drop-dumplings? I can do both ways, and they turn out well. I prefer rolled out, just because if they’re done right you get the best of both worlds: well formed dumplings AND a thicker sauce (I can’t stand runny C&D).
My method isn’t too fattening either (although it’s hard not to get seconds).
I’m just SOOOOO happy to be able to make my favorite comfort foods again!
Shoot The Moose 
October 11, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I am with you on that. I was just discussing that very thing today that I am looking forward to said chicken and dumplings, white bean chicken chili, beef stew, chili… Yum, time to rummage through the fridge….
October 11, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I’ve been lusting after crock pot-cooked meals for two weeks. You must share your chicken and dumplings recipe – I’ve never attempted this particular feat.
October 12, 2007 at 9:51 am
I just cooked C & D a couple of nights ago. Funny, though, I don’t think of it as a cold-weather dish. For me it’s a year-round one. Now, pot roast, goulash, and my grandma’s split pea soup are cold-weather foods in my house. And (cover your eyes, southerners) stuffed poultry of all kinds. Mmmmm, stuffed roast chicken. I’m not really eager for fall this year, since I feel that we got cheated out of summer, but I am eager for fall foods.
October 12, 2007 at 11:29 am
Roll em out dumplins fo sho.
I had Terry’s Granny, who was famous for her C &D’s, tell me how she made them one time. It took about an hour for her to figure out how she did it. She’d been making them since she was a kid. C &D’s is one of those dishes people think of as being really complicated but they really are one of the more simpler things out there. I think its rolling stuff out that scares people.
October 14, 2007 at 1:43 pm
recipe?
October 15, 2007 at 9:58 am
Ahh, yes, TheBoyfriend™ just made his first post of zucchini chili yesterday. It’s officially the cool season.