Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

My Mom makes the most amazing Chicken and Dumplings in the world.  This dish was so delicious that my Mom once offered to make it for our neighbor who had just had surgery.  Her Mother was staying with her to help her recuperate and griped about how much she hated Chicken and Dumplings.  After trying my Mom's amazing food she was whistling a new tune about Dumplings!  But, as with most amazing things my Mom made, they took more time than I have on a weeknight.  Who has the time to make stock and noodle soup from scratch?  I found this recipe and it was so easy that I had to give it a try.  It was tasty and the chicken was very tender.  But it certainly wasn't my Mom's Chicken and Dumplings.  But for a weeknight it will do just fine.  If I make it again I think I'll add some carrots and celery because in my opinion those belong in a good chicken noodle dish.

You will need a Crock Pot, Chicken Broth, dried Parsley, Cream of Chicken Soup, Onion, Refrigerated Biscuit dough, and Chicken.

Add the Cream of Chicken Soup and Broth to the Crock Pot.

Sprinkle in some dried Parsley and a bit of Salt & Pepper

Dice up 1/2 a Large Onion and mix everything together well.

Place the Chicken (I used thawed chicken) into the pool and try and submerge as much as you can.

Cover and cook on High 4-6 Hours

Take 4 of the Refrigerated Biscuits..

and cut them up into little chunks

Stick it in the crock pot on top of the chicken mixture.  Cover and cook another 30-60 minutes once the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink.

I ended up cooking the biscuits for an hour.

I left my chicken pieces big but you can shred it up if you want to.  Enjoy!

Crockpot chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Soucre:  Bubble Crumb

4 Boneless skinless Chicken Breasts
2 Cans 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can 33% Less Sodium Chicken Broth
1/2 Large Onion Diced
1 TBSP Dried Parsley
4 Large Refrigerator Biscuits

To your Crockpot add the Cream of Chicken Soups, Broth, Diced Onion, Parsley and mix it together well.  Add in the Chicken and try to submerge it as much as possible.  Set Crockpot to high and cook 4-6 hours or until the chicken is fully cooked (mine went about 4 hours).

Cut your biscuits up into little chunks and place on top of the chicken mixture.  Place lid on Crockpot and cook another 30-60 minutes until the biscuits are cooked through (I cooked mine for 60 min).

Enjoy!

Approximately 6 servings

314 Calories
30 Carbs
9 Fat
29 protein

Shrimp & Mango Skewers Recipe

BBQ grills intimidate me.  I have never started a grill before.  The charcoal makes me nervous..and don't even get me started on how scary it is to light a gas burner!  Terrifying!  Also, I don't really know how to cook on them so I pretty much avoid recipes that require grilling.  I came across the following recipe in my August 2011 Good Housekeeping magazine and it sounded amazing.  I had a couple of Mangoes from my Bountiful Basket and decided to give it a whirl.  It was so amazing!  The mango and shrimp with the sauce...oh yeah!  Yummy!

You will need Wooden Skewers, Mangoes, Lime, Plain Yogurt, Curry Powder, Cumin, Fresh Mint, Spinach, and Raw Shrimp.

Place the skewers in water and let them soak at least 30 minutes.  Be careful not to puncture the bag..or else you'll have a small swamp on your counter top.  I found this out by experience.

In a small bowl squeeze the Lime juice and zest the lime peel.

Chop up the mint and add it in.

Add in the Yogurt, Salt, and Pepper and mix everything together really well.  Set aside.

Cook the Couscous according to package instructions.

Now they are ready for the next step.

Add two big handfuls of spinach to the same pot as the Couscous.

Put the lid on and let it steam a bit.

Mangoes have an oval shaped pit so when you cut it you want to cut the two sides off.  Then score it like I did in the picture.

Then just pop it inside out and it is super easy to cut. 

Chop up your mango.

Take your skewers out of the water and alternate shrimp and mango. 

Look at how great they look!

Split your yogurt mixture into two bowls.  One of them will be used for serving.  With the other grab your trusty pastry brush and get a big glob of the creamy yogurt mix.

Brush it all over the shrimps and mangoes.

Place the skewers on a hot grill and cook about 5-7 minutes.

Turn once during the cooking time.

Take the Couscous and stick it in a bowl.

Get all the skewers off the grill.

Serve with the reserved yogurt dip and Enjoy!

Shrimp & Mango Skewers Recipe
Source:  Good Housekeeping Magazine

1 lime
1 C plain low fat yogurt
3 TBSP Fresh Mint, finely chopped
1/2 tsp Curry Powder
1 C Couscous
5oz Baby spinach (2 handfuls)
1 Lb shelled and deveined shrimp 26-30
2 ripe mangoes, peeled, and cut into chunks

Soak skewers in cold water at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.  Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling on medium-high.

From Lime, grate 1 tsp zest and squeeze 2 tsp juice into a medium bowl.  Stir in the yogurt, Mint, Curry Powder, Salt and Pepper.  Mix together well and set aside.

Prepare the couscous according to package directions.  When the water is absorbed, fluff the couscous with a fork add the spinach on top of the couscous and let it steam.

Meanwhile thread the shrimp and mango chunks alternately onto the skewers.  Place half of the yogurt mix into a small bowl and set aside for serving.  Brush remaining mixture all over the shrimp and mango.  Grill 5-7 minutes, turning over once, until shrimp are cooked through.

Toss spinach and Couscous until combined.  Top with shrimp skewer and drizzle with reserved yogurt mixture.

Enjoy!

Approximately 4 servings

410 Calories
28 Protein
73 Carbs
3 Fat

Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe

At my house it seems like we always have some bananas that are a little too ripe.  It's no good to let those brown bananas go to waste and the best way to use them is to make... Banana Bread!  My little helper always gets excited when I bake because she gets to help.  I've been on the hunt for the best Banana Bread and came across this recipe titled "the Ultimate Banana Bread."  Ultimate?  Well that is something I've got to try.  It was a simple recipe without any bells and whistles which I like.

You will need Sugar, Salt, Flour (I used some wheat and some white), Butter, Egg, Baking Soda, Vanilla, and Ripe Bananas.

Peel the Bananas and place them in a bowl.

Have your helper mash them up with her tattooed arm.  Helps build up the forearm muscles for maximum tattoo show off ability.

Get the Banana's good and mashed.

Place the Egg in a bowl and beat it up a bit.

Have the helper pour it in with the Bananas.

Add the Sugar

Melt your Butter.

And add it into the pool with everything else.

Mix it all up really well.

Add the Baking Soda and Salt and mix in thoroughly.

Add the Flour.  I used 2/3 Whole Wheat and 1/3 White Flour.

Realize you forgot the Vanilla and add it now.  Probably should have gone in with the Butter.

Mix together till combined.  Do not overmix.

Grease and Flour a bread pan.

Pour in the bread mix and try to spread it out evenly.

Bake 350 Degrees and bake for 60 minutes.

Let cool on a wire rack.

Yum!  So moist and tasty.

While it's still a little warm cut a slice and Enjoy with a little butter.

 

 

Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe

3-4 Ripe Bananas, mashed
1/3 C Melted Butter
1 C Sugar
1 Egg, Beaten
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Baking Soda
Pinch of Salt
1 1/2 C Flour

Pre heat oven to 350 Degrees.  Peel your Bananas and place in a large bowl.  Mash them up with a fork or potato masher.  Add the Sugar, Egg, and Vanilla to the Banana mix and stir in well.  Add the Melted Butter and mix together.  Sprinkle the Baking Soda and Salt over the mixture and stir to combine.  Add the flour last and mix until just combined.  Pour the mixture into a bread pan that has been greased and floured.  Bake for 60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack. 

Enjoy!

Approximately 10 Servings


128 Calories
20 Carbs
5 Fat
3 Protein