A Little Piece of Home > Papa's Chicken and Dumplin's

More food, more food...Yes, I'm gonna blog about more food!
(yes I left the "g" out of dumplings on purpose)

*Picture courtesy of Food Network*
(since I failed to take a photo of mine...they looked similar though!)

For weeks I have been craving homemade Chicken and Dumplin's so on Wednesday of last week I called my Papa and asked him for the run down. This task, that I thought would be so difficult turned out to be a synch. Let me tell you, 2 bowls later and a phone call back to my Papa on Friday, I am proud to say my Dumplings were FANTASTIC and tasted just like Papa's do! Let me tell you how I did it.....

Papa's Chicken and Dumplin's

Step 1:
Cover with water and boil together in a large pot;
1 Pack (8-10 pcs) Chicken Thighs
2-4 Stalks of Celery (Washed and diced)
1 Onion
Salt and Pepper
Step 2:
Remove Chicken from Stock, allow to cool, de-bone.
Step 3:
Add the following to your pot of Stock and bring to a low boil
1 Can Cream of Mushroom
1 Can Cream of Celery
1 Can Cream of Chicken
Step 4:
Return Chicken to pot of "Creamy Stock" and bring to a rolling boil
Step 5:
Take 4 cans regular refrigerator biscuits and cut each biscuit into 4 smaller pieces.
Add 1/2 of biscuits to "Creamy Stock" and allow to simmer for 20 minutes with the lid on the pot. (Do not take the lid off). Biscuits will rise to top and become very fluffy.
Step 6:
Serve up your bowls and allow to cool!
Add the remaining 1/2 of biscuits to your "Creamy Stock", replace lid and allow to simmer while you enjoy your 1st bowl. This portion should be ready in time for 2nds or for leftovers...which by the way these are excellent the very next day.

Delish Food....PCS Style :-)

When your stuck in the house all day long with 2 children what do YOU do? There has to be an escape of some kind whether it be sewing, scrap booking, reading, etc.

My escape has become cooking during Brudder's afternoon nap. It seems to be very good stress relief and makes for a home that smells fantastic when Breezy comes in from his long day at the Hangar.

There are many meals that I know Breezy loves and I have always wanted to make them for him. In Germany I had a kitchen FULL of cookware, etc. and never seemed to find the time (or maybe the guts) to prepare them and now were in our new home, with NOTHING (but 1 pot, 1 cake pan, 1 cookie sheet and 1 skillet) and I've managed to make a dish that I know is one of his favorites (and didn't get the look) so far. It was so simple and easy that I decided to share it with you here. I took the recipe from The Pioneer Women and made it fit my cooking needs! I'm going to tell you how I did it and you can decide which way is easier.

Beef Drip/French Dip

4-5 pd Chuck Roast
1 Can Beef Consomme
1 (16 oz) jar sliced Pepper Rings
Italian Seasoning
Garlic Salt and Powder
Pepper
Shredded Carrots (optional)
1-2 Red Onions
EVOO or Butter for Sauteing Onions
Brotchen/Fresh Rolls
Provolone Cheese

Season Chuck Roast with Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder and Pepper and place in large pot. To your pot add consomme, 1/2 jar (or more) of peppers and 1/2 jar (or more) of pepper juice. In a skillet saute' onions and carrots until onions are slightly translucent and add to roast pot. Bring juices to a rolling boil. (I boiled mine for 15 minuted and then flipped my roast over, allowing for both sides to be slightly browned.) Reduce heat to medium/low heat (make sure you keep a simmer going) and place lid on pot. Allow to cook, untouched for 3-5 hours. Once meat is done/falling apart, shred with fork and return to juice for 5-10 minutes for added moisture. In a large bowl strain meat from juice, reserving juice for dipping. Slice rolls cover each side with butter and a little garlic powder, add meat mixture (I spooned a little juice over the top of the meat to keep from getting too dry in the oven), top with Provolone cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted.

*You can do this in your crock pot also and cook ALL day on low*

Here is the original recipe that I worked off of from The Pioneer Women;
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/02/drip-beef-two-ways/

Gold Pot Give-Away

Do you like to dress your kiddos for all of those Special Occasions (Valentines, St. Patty's, Easter, Mardi Gras, Birthday,Turkey Day,Christmas)? Most of you know that I do. Since before Big Boy was born I was/still always looking for Monogrammed, Appliqued, Custom-made items that were made especially for him. I think it became an obsession...really! Now I have 2 boys to dress and the obsession just continues. Ask Breezy, it makes him NUTS!!!!

Today marks the first Special Occasion that Big Boy isn't wearing a custom designed shirt (in his 4 1/2 years here on Earth) and the same goes for Brudder in his mere 9 months. This PCS really did a work on us and to be quiet honest Valentines Day just plain slipped up. So, to make up for my lack of planning I've already gone on over to my "Go To Girl"; Kristen's blog Pretty Pretty Baby @ www.prettyprettybabycouture.blogspot.com and ordered this;

Pretty Lucky Leprechaun Hat Letter Shirt

Together, Kristen and I will be doing a St.Patty's Day giveaway. The give-away will begin today, 14 February and will be open until 11:59 p.m. on 27 February. One lucky winner will win a custom designed shirt similar to the one pictured above. In order to qualify please post a comment with your name and e-mail. On the 1st of March I will draw from my "Gold Pot" 1 lucky winner. Kristen will then contact you for the information she needs in order to prepare your Grand Prize.

In case you might want to know a little more about my friend, this is what Kristen has to say about herself;

I am a work at home mommy, I have a 14 mos old baby girl. When I found out I was having a girl, I started making hair bows and had an overwhelming need to be creative. Once she was born, I started hand-sewing number appliques on her onesies to take her pictures each month to chart her growth. I loved it, got an embroidery machine a few months later, and grew my business from just hair bows to custom shirts for little ones. I was able to quit my part time job in October to focus on just pretty pretty baby. I use high quality materials to create quality products. And I love what I do! I get to be creative and spend time with my sweet baby girl :)

PLEASE visit her Facebook (and be sure to "Like" it) and also her Etsy site at the following links;

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/etsyprettyprettybaby
http://www.etsy.com/shop/prettyprettybaby

Good Luck and lets see LOTS of comments!!!!

*my links aren't working for some reason..I apologize*

It's Real Wild Ride

Jan 19th marked the beginning of chaos for Breezy and I. It seems like the 19th was yesterday not almost a month ago.

The packers came on the 25th and 26th to pick up our Household Goods(HHG)and both of those days were a mess in themselves. The 25th was our big pick up of around 7000 lbs. They sent ONE packer and a truck to hold 4500 lbs. Needless to say at 2:00 p.m. they realized they needed 3 packers and another truck. The packers finally left our house at 10:00 p.m. On the 26th they were suppose to come pick up our unaccompanied items between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. and guess when they showed up...7:30 p.m. YUCK! On the 27th we spent all day cleaning the apartment and moving our luggage to the Heeter's and on the 28th we cleared our apartment with the housing office at 12:30 p.m. What a busy week.

On the 25th I attended PWOC in Germany for the last time and it made me very sad. I had to say goodbye to many, but the final goodbye's didn't happen until the 30th, our last Sunday in Chapel. On the 31st, 5 of my best girlfriends came over to the Heeter's for Coffee and Cake and we said our goodbye's. It truly broke my heart. *Chelsea, Latrise, Iris, Jeanette and Rita thank you for your friendship and love.*

We flew from Germany on the 1st at 1:15 p.m. and finally made it to our new home in CO around 9:30 p.m. (8 hours difference in the time). We were whopped. We stayed with our old neighbors from Germany for 2 nights and since then we've been in our new house and getting adjusted.

I've got alot to write about but since we still do not have any furniture I'm sitting on the floors and my tailbone has no more life left in it. I'll post again soon...with photos :-)

Blessings are abounding!