"Chicken" and Dumplings

You know what I freakin' love? Chicken and dumplings.  Too bad I don't eat chicken anymore!  So, I needed a creamy, savory, satisfying substitute.  After much experimentation, I came up with this recipe for "chicken" and dumplings that's made with Quorn, which is a kind of fake chicken you can probably find at your grocery store in the freezer section.  If you can't find Quorn, you could probably substitute another brand of fake chicken patty; just choose something that isn't breaded.

"Chicken" and Dumplings

Ingredients:
2 T. butter
1 t. minced garlic
1/2 large onion, diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into half-moons
3 celery stalks, sliced into 1/2" pieces
2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
3 Quorn "naked" fake chicken breasts, torn into small pieces
1 cup frozen peas
2 t. faux chicken bouillon gel (see below)
6 cups 1% milk
3/4 c. all purpose flour
1/4 t. dried thyme
1/4 t. dried marjoram
1/2 t. ground black pepper
3 dried bay leaves
1 can (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent rolls, sliced into 1/2 inch wide discs

Directions:
In a stock pot, cook garlic, onion, carrot, celery, potato, and Quorn over medium heat until potato is *almost* done. I like to tear up the Quorn instead of dicing it, because it gives it a more realistic texture:

Add peas and cook a few more minutes until the peas are thawed. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, flour, thyme, marjoram, and pepper.  Add the milk mixture to the stock pot and stir.  Add the faux chicken stock and stir until it dissolves.  I like to use Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base.  If you use something else, you may need to alter the measurements.  Just follow the measurement given on your bouillon for making a quart of stock.

Now add the bay leaves and bring to a boil.  Once the mixture is boiling, drop in the slices of crescent roll dough, cover, and reduce heat.  Simmer for about 10 minutes, or until your dumplings have fluffed up a bit.  You may need to taste test one or two...or four...to make sure they're done. Your dish will end up tasting much better if you make a mess while cooking it.  I swear. ;)

You probably will also want to give it a stir or two while the dumplings are cooking to make sure nothing sticks.  Once your dumplings are fluffy-ish, your "Chicken" and Dumplings are ready!  Just ladle into bowls, top with some more freshly ground black pepper, and serve. 

Country French Potato Leek Soup

Well, it's starting to get a bit chilly now and then in my neck of the woods, so potato soup sounded like just the thing.  It's VERY simple to make, and the hubby keeps asking if there are still leftovers. :)

Country French Potato Leek Soup

5 medium russet potatoes, diced
6 cups milk (I used whole milk; you could sub in lighter milk or cream for part of it to make a healthier or richer soup)
3 leeks, sliced into 1/2 inch rings, and washed well
1 T. minced garlic
1 1/2 T. herbes de provence (If you're not a fan of lavender, look for French herbes de provence; typically lavender is only included in American made herbes de provence.)
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 T. olive oil


In a medium to large sized stock pot (I use my 6 quart dutch oven), sweat the leeks over medium heat with the garlic and a little salt.  Once leeks look mostly translucent, add the potatoes and milk and slowly bring to a boil. 

Simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes can be easily pierced with a fork. Add the herbes de provence, the salt, and the pepper and leave over low heat for 5 minutes.  

Use an immersion blender to blend up the soup to whatever consistency you prefer.  I generally like to leave some potato and leek pieces whole, so I blend one side of the pot only. Makes 6 generous servings. 

Lentil Soup; It's Mental Fruit!

Here's one from the hubby!  He happens to be a not-too-shabby vegetarian cook in his own right, and this soup he created is DARN good!

Jonathon’s Vegan Lentil Soup

1 med Vidalia onion, diced
4 med carrots, diced
4 celery stalks, diced
1 med potato, diced
Approximately 2 tablespoons gel form faux-chicken stock (you could use powder form; use enough to make about 6 cups of broth)
1 tablespoon Crystal hot sauce
1 tablespoon fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon salt
Spray olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic w/ juice (the kind you get in the jar)
16 oz dry lentils, picked over and rinsed
8 cups water
Bac-Os (optional)


Spray pot with olive oil cooking spray until very coated.  Put chopped onions and garlic in.  After 3 minutes add carrots, celery, and potato to the mix.  Add faux-chicken stock, water, salt, pepper, and hot sauce to the pot.  Bring to a rapid boil for 4 minutes and reduce to simmer for 1 hour.  Add Bacos and additional hot sauce to taste!
Eat while listening to Be Healthy by Dead Prez. ;)