Comfort Food 101

One of my favorite comfort foods is chicken and dumplings. I don't know why but somehow I always feel better about the world after a nice warm bowl of chicken and dumplings. So since we are getting ready to start Fall I thought I would share an easy and delicious recipe.

Quick Chicken and Dumplings

4 cups water
3 cups chopped cooked chicken (I just buy one of those great pre-made roast chickens from the store)
2 (10 3/4 oz.) cans cream of chicken soup
4 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1 tsp. pepper
1 (7.5 oz.) can refrigerated biscuits (this depends on what you like - I personally prefer to use Annie's brand frozen pre-made dumplings OR spaetzle - homemade German noodles)

1. Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring often.
2. Separate biscuits in half, forming rounds; cut each round in half. Drop biscuit pieces, 1 at a time, into boiling mixture; stir gently. Or if using frozen Annie's dumplings simply break into small pieces and add to mixture. 
3. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes.
   

Notes:
If you would like to make the recipe lighter just use reduced sodium, reduced fat cream of chicken soup
If you would like to make this dish with spaetzle please use the following recipe:

Spaetzle
2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 pinch of salt
water or milk to moisten - generally about 2 tbs. ( I prefer milk)

1. Lightly whisk the egg and salt in a bowl.
2. Slowly add flour and stir after each addition.
3. Add water or milk and mix in.
4. The batter should be gooey but not runny. If you add too much liquid simply add a little more flour to tighten up the mixture a bit.
5. You now should have a "dough".
6. Add dough to your chicken and dumpling mixture by placing  a bit of your dough on a cutting board (wood works best) and taking a large knife and cutting small pieces of dough off into the boiling mixture.
7. Continue step 6 until you have used all of your dough and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.

Makes 4 to 6 servings