Easy Chicken and Dumplings

(Beyond Easy) Easy Chicken and Dumplings
1 - 2 cans Chicken Broth  OR 1 can Chicken Broth, 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can cooked chicken
1 can biscuits
1 - 2 Tablespoons butter
Pepper

Bring chicken broth to a boil. While waiting, open and drain chicken. Open canned biscuits and cut each biscuit into quarters or strips. Add butter, biscuit pieces, and chicken to broth. Pepper to taste. Boil for 10 - 15 minutes. Dumplings will be ready when biscuits are "done" on the inside (they will look bread-y).


The starch from the "dumplings" will make the broth thick.

Edit:
To keep the chicken from sticking and burning to the bottom of your pot, put in the biscuits first and then put the can of chicken on top. The chicken will hold the biscuits down and will eat up from the cooking biscuits.

Also, covering speeds up the process. And, do not touch the pot once it's covered. I used to have to stir several times as this cooked, to keep the chicken from sticking, but then I found the gem of advice above that I have passed on to you guys.

Variations

• Hate canned chicken? Reminds you of tuna? Use your left over chicken from last night or boil up some boneless, skinless chicken breast/strips in about 15 minutes and then cut into chunks. OR boil a whole chicken, covered, for about 40 minutes.
  
• Use cream of chicken soup and 3/4 c water instead of chicken broth for really thick dumplings. Some people even just use milk and flour for the sauce.
  
• No biscuits? No problem. Use a box of lasagna. No noodles? Use 1 package of tortillas. Just cut the tortillas into strips and drop into the boiling chicken broth. Once their soft, they are ready to eat.
• For a SUPER fast dumplings, heat your favorite soup to boiling and drop in quartered biscuits; cover and let simmer/boil for about 10 minutes. Vegetable soup with Chicken lends itself to this. For me, though, this is not really Chicken and Dumplings....but it is good eats.
  

I really like this recipe because it's really easy and really fast. This is another one of those comfort foods. I always use plenty of pepper for flavor and serve with green beans or peas and carrots.

Have your own Chicken and dumplings recipe? Are your dumplings more noodle than dumpling? Do you know a quick and easy "handmade" dumpling recipe? Leave some comments.

Jen's Take on Cooking

I'm no Rachel Ray. I don't make fabulous, gourmet quality, ready to serve at parties type meals in thirty minutes.

I am just a tired Administrative Assistant who tries to find a few minutes every night to make dinner for my husband and myself after we fall onto the couch and watch CSI reruns and before new episodes of House come on.

I'm serious about being tired. By the end of the day, I've been up since 6, worked from 8-4:30, driven home in traffic, taken a mile or so walk with my dog, and then find myself in the kitchen. I admire people with kids who look sane. I don't know how they do it.

When we first got married, we both were used to eating sandwiches and Ramen noodles. For a year or so we survived on that with Hamburger Helper thrown in a couple times a week. Now we both have our own diet restrictions. He's got juvenile diabetes. I've got persistent migraines and also need to drop a couple of pounds. Hamburger Helper doesn't cut it anymore.

I believe you should be able to cook your favorite foods in under an hour and still have great tasting, healthy food.

I believe that cooking for a crowd shouldn't take more time than cooking for my family.

I believe that you should be able to have fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, and snacks AND still live on a budget.

I believe everyone should invest in a cute lunchbox and plasticware. Take leftovers to work for lunch and save yourself the money and the calories.

I believe that food affects our overall being. Comfort food really makes you feel better when your sick, sad, depressed. Light, healthy food brings in the Summer. Thick Chili warms you in the Winter. Why "diet"? Why fill up every night on Turkey and Cheese sandwiches if you don't even like them? Why spend money on cheap burgers? (Don't get me wrong...I love McDonalds...my first was fries...but not every night. And I can make 4 juicy burgers and a big batch of fries and side salads for about the same price as 2 meals from a fast food place)

I believe you should eat the foods you love and love the food you eat. And, boy, do I love food.

Soooo...I'll be posting some of my quick and easy (and often very cheap) recipes. Many are variations I've come up with from traditional long cooking meals; others are my mom's, mom-in-law's, or friend's. I will try to let you know when the recipe isn't mine.

Feel free to add your own versions of the recipes. Share your comments, variations, soup choices, whatever. Did you try the recipe? Love it? Hate it? Know a faster, cheaper way to make one of the meals I post? Share with me.

Super Easy Chili

Mom's Easy Chili
1 - 1.5 lbs ground hamburger
1 can kidney beans
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can crushed (or diced) tomatoes
Chili powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
rice, optional
sour cream, optional
cheese, optional

Fry hamburger meat and drain. Drain beans and add to meat. Add tomato sauce and tomatoes. Add chili powder -- I usually sprinkle the whole top of the mixture with chili powder, then stir, and repeat. Heat through. Serve with rice, sour cream, and cheese.

Variations

• Why use hamburger meat? Use ground turkey or sausage. Go meatless. It your super easy chili, eat it how you like it.
• Kidney beans are traditional but in no way the only chili bean. Pinto beans work well. Ranch style beans (pre-seasoned pinto beans) add a little extra something. Use a combination of beans or no beans at all.
• Feel free to throw whatever is in your pantry into your chili. Got some leftover fried potatoes? Need to use up some plain macaroni? Really love corn?
  
• Use Rotel tomatoes instead of regular diced tomatoes for some real kick.
• Leave out one or both cans of tomato sauce for a thicker chili.
• Serve your chili over mashed potatoes instead of rice to switch it up a bit.
  

I really like this recipe because it's really easy and really fast. Chili is so easy to change up that it is a staple food in the winter AND it really tastes better the second day, so there's always a reason to make extra.

Love it? Hate it? Got your own variation? Post your thoughts.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

I'm having to follow this strict diet for a month to see what foods trigger my migraines. I'll share the list at a later date...let just say that it takes all the fun out of food.

So, I've had to update several of my favorite recipes to fit the diet restrictions. Then we add that I hate taking more than 45 minutes to make a meal. I'm only cooking for 2 and most nights I have a headache, so I don't want to stand over a stove and handle hot and/or sharp objects.

I've decided to share the recipes that I update so that others can enjoy them too. Tonight, I'm sharing a comfort food staple. This recipe will feed 4-6 people.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

• 10 oz can cream of mushroom soup
• 8 oz (1 box) macaroni noodles
• 1.5 cups of of milk
• 4 - 8 oz Velveeta cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Cook noodles according to box. Cube Velveeta. Add soup, milk, and cheese to drained noodles. Heat through (until cheese is melted). Serve with favorite vegetable for a quick meal.
Can be cooked by stove top, microwave, or oven.

Now my favorite part.

Substitutions/Variations

• Many soups have MSG. Look for a soup that doesn't include this ingredient, like Campbell's Healthy Request soups. Just remember to add salt and pepper for your tastes. Also,  these soups are sometimes "soupier" than the original.  Adjust liquids to compensate.
• No Cream of Mushroom? Use Cream of Chicken. In a pinch Cheese soup will work.
• If you don't have tuna (or don't like it), use chicken instead.
• Feel free to substitute any type of noodle for macaroni, like shells or broken spaghetti. Egg noodles are especially good for Tuna Casseroles.
• No Velveeta? Use American cheese slices (about 8). Or use half Velveeta and half American cheese. If you can eat aged cheeses, experiment with your favorite cheeses.
• If you like a crunchy topping, try crumbled buttery crackers (like Ritz) or French fried onions.
• Need a veggie?  Throw in some frozen peas when you add the cheese or add canned peas just before everything is finished.  Green beans are also accompany this really well.
• Use low carb or gluten-free pasta, low fat/low sodium soup, low fat Velveeta, 1-2% milk, and tuna packed in water for a healthier version of this dish.

I love this meal because it's really easy to prepare and super fast to cook. In a pinch, add a can of green beans or open a bag of salad, and you have a complete meal. I also love that it can be made in a healthier way. Personally, I use Healthy Choice soup (then add salt), 2% milk, full fat Velveeta, and Tuna in water....I guess I'm splitting the difference.

Edit:
After months and months of cooking this, I've figured out that you don't need the milk unless your casserole is thick. Also, a couple of drops of Worcestershire mixed in with the cheese is yummy!
Got your own quick Tuna Casserole Recipe? Feel free to share!