Hey folks! Welcome to Episode 75! Almost to 80, and I think I might hit 100 Episodes by the New Year!

It’s getting colder and colder here, as the First Day of Winter is officially behind us.

The days are passing, and the leaves have all since fallen. Passing the moments by the cigarette, and channel surfing at it’s finest. Chores be done, and game night hence inevitable.

The neighbor, who cooked the soup, and brought us over some, also stayed for a couple games of Yahtzee and Poker. It makes the days pass by a little quicker when there are neighbors to bs with. 

The Turkey and Dumpling Soup was made from left over turkey, go figure. I stepped inside my neighbors home, and was hit by heavy turkey flavors. They showed me their super simple dumplin biscuit recipe. Flour, salt, water, butter and pepper, I think.

The soup simply receives a 5/5 Stars. I am not typically a fan of soups with Noodles, and this one passed the test.

I’ll let y’all in on a little secret: I beat them at Yahtzee. They couldn’t handle all of this skill. 🎲

Still waiting for my mail to arrive; it sucks not having my documents/cards. Also waiting for my appointment with the SSA; I’ll be excited to get everything settled. 🙂

Well, here is the recipe:

For the soup:

2 tablespoons olive oil or butter

1 medium onion, diced

2 carrots, peeled and diced

2 celery stalks, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

6 cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)

1 1/2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or cubed, preferably rotisserie chicken)

2 cups whole milk or heavy cream (for a creamier soup)

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)


For the homemade dumplings:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

1/2 cup milk (add a little more if necessary)

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)



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Instructions:

1. Make the Soup Base:

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat.

Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it boils, reduce the heat to a simmer.

Stir in the cooked chicken, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Let the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Pour in the milk or heavy cream and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep the soup at a low simmer.


2. Prepare the Dumplings:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder (if using), and thyme (if using).

Cut the cold butter into small cubes and add to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to incorporate the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Gradually add the milk, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; the dough should be thick but slightly sticky. If it’s too dry, add a splash more milk.

Optionally, fold in chopped parsley for extra flavor.


3. Add the Dumplings to the Soup:

Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough into the simmering soup. Be sure to space them out as they will expand while cooking.

Cover the pot with a lid and let the dumplings steam on low heat for about 15-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time, as the dumplings need the steam to cook properly.

Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick or fork into a dumpling; it should come out clean.


4. Serve:

Once the dumplings are cooked through, remove the bay leaf from the soup.

Ladle the soup and dumplings into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.


Tips:

For a thicker soup, you can make a slurry with 1 tablespoon of flour and a bit of milk and stir it into the soup before adding the dumplings.

For extra flavor, consider adding a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of white wine to the soup base.


Enjoy your homemade Chicken and Dumplings Soup with fluffy, soft dumplings!