The Chicken and Dumpling Sundae

Is it a sundae? "No." Is it Chicken and Dumplings? "N0." IT'S A CHICKEN AND DUMPLING SUNDAE! Eat this and prepare to be spoiled rotten by the ultimate comfort food. During the winter months, I'm all in to the one-pot wonder meals. This Chicken and Dumpling recipe is rich, warm, creamy, chunky, savory and simple. Hold the applause for the fantastic plating and presentation. (Actually, this came out of necessity due to picky eaters.)

The Chicken and Dumpling Sundae

4 boneless chicken breast

32 oz less sodium chicken broth

5 garlic cloves

4 carrots, cut in to chunks

1/2 onion, grated

1 tablespoon McCormick's Worcestershire pepper

1 tablespoon butter

juice of 1 lemon

4 cups hot water with 1 tablespoon chicken soup base

3 tablespoon flour

1/2 cup half-n-half

Dumplings

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

salt to taste

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon sugar

(1) Bring chicken broth, water and chicken soup base to a rolling simmer. (2) Add Chicken and garlic, poach until cooked thoroughly. Cool chicken and slice. Remove garlic and smash and return to broth (3) Add chicken, carrots, grated onion and simmer until carrots are cooked. (4) Add pepper, grated onion, butter and lemon juice. (5) Mix the flour and half-n-half and add the broth to thicken. (6) Gently mix all dumpling ingredients and form small dumplings. Drop in simmering broth and cover. (7) Cook dumpling for 15 to 20 minutes. No Peeking!!

Some recipes are worth repeating and I guarantee this is one of those. This will be on your menu time and time again. Of course, you don't have to serve this Chicken and Dumplings in a sundae cup. I did this for my nieces and nephews. For your ladies luncheon, ladle it in to soup bowls and sprinkle with fresh parsley. I have served this with a white wine fruit Sangria, a loaf of fresh baked bread and homemade butter to rave reviews.

It's okay. Admit it, you want your Chicken and Dumplings served in a sundae cup!!!

The Cookie Fairy and The Vanilla Toffee Crinkle Cookies

Is there such a thing as a Cookie Fairy? Just bear with me! It's been a long day with snow and ice. I've spent the entire day, in the house, with my teenage son!! (The other part of the day was spent texting my other son who is in College with MONO!!) More ice is coming, with the dire prediction that it could be the WORSE ice storm EVER for this area. I've had teenagers in and out of my house, ALL DAY LONG!! Some how, they avoid the law and order of no cars on the road. All I know is that I said "No" to my son driving. I ordered pizza for them. Don't ask me how the pizza guy made it here, but he did. He left with a really GOOD tip. I mean, he did help me feed a bunch of greasy teenage boys. What can I say but:

Vanilla Toffee Crinkle Cookies

1 (18 1/4 ounce) box white cake mix

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 bag toffee bits

confectioners' sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 350°
Stir dry cake mix, oil and eggs in a large bowl until dough forms. Gently fold in Toffee Bits. Dust hands with confectioners' sugar and shape dough into 1" balls.
Roll balls in confectioners' sugar and place 2 inches apart on non stick cookie sheets.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until center is set.
Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.

I could sit here and tell you what deep sweet flavor these cookies have. I could tell you that they have a crunchy outside with a creamy, gooey inside. I could tell you that they would be perfect for your Super Bowl party. I could tell you that they are in the easy to make category. OR.... I could tell you just to believe in the Cookie Fairy. Here's wishing for SPRING!!

PS. That really isn't a Cookie Fairy but a Dotee Doll!

The One and Only Super Bowl Treat. . . Chocolate Fantasy Kissed Cookies

Drum roll please . . . . . I present to you, the one and only cookie that is worthy of your Super Bowl party. . . . . Chocolate Fantasy Kissed Cookies!! They are sweet and chocolaty beyond your culinary imagination. They are silky, chunky, and so very easy to prepare. They are destined to become a regular upon your cookie platter for years to come. This is your moment to WOW the crowd. WAIT!!! Nobody is watching the big game!! Your guests are too busy admiring and eating your cookies!! Better make a double batch.

Chocolate Fantasy Kissed Cookies

1 roll refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie dough

1/3 cup cocoa

1 cup chocolate chunk chips

chocolate sprinkles

1 cup white chocolate chips

chocolate candy kisses

2 teaspoons shortening

Preheated oven to 350 degrees

(1) Bring Chocolate Chip cookie dough to room temperature. (2) Add cocoa to cookie dough and mix well. I do this with my hand mixer. (3) Add Chocolate chunk chips and stir by hand until well blended. (4) Use your melon ball scoop to measure cookies. Shape cookies in to a ball and roll in chocolate sprinkles. (5) Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper. (6) Place cookies on cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. (7) While cookies are still on sheet place a chocolate kiss in the middle of each. Remove to wire racks and cool completely. (8) Place white chocolate chips and shortening in a food baggie and microwave until just melted. Cut a very, very small hole in the edge of the bag and drizzle over cookies!!!!! (9) Don't eat ALL the cookies. Save some for your Super Bowl guests!!

These cookies are small, but pack a double punch of chocolate and sweetness. The drizzle of white chocolate icing really sends them over the top for richness. They are elegant and sophisticated, yet such a simple concoction. Just one cookie is remarkably satisfying. They are excellent to make ahead and freeze. Now, go and have one of the best Super Bowl parties on the block.

The WINNER of Super Bowl 43 . . . . Gin's Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

Are you ready for the Super Bowl? I know that I am. This year I am invited to a Super Bowl party and for once can’t wait. I have never much been in to the Super Bowl, but for some reason this year is different. Could it be my birthday is the next day, and I get to go out for my birthday dinner? Could it be that my husband is taking my shopping for some new kitchen gadgets? Or, could it be my Sweet and Spicy Meatballs?

Kick off your Super Bowl party with an enticing crock of Sweet and Spicy Meatballs! The deep sweet flavor of Pepper Jelly combines forces with chili sauce to make a remarkably amazing base for these homemade meatballs. The deliciously versatile thing about these little gems is that they can be made a head, and frozen until the big football day. Make a batch today and your well on your way to serving some pretty amazing appetizers.

Gin’s Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 Italian sausage links, casing removed
1 egg, beaten
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 head garlic, roasted
½ Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoon dried minced onion
2 teaspoons garlic pepper
2 teaspoon Chardonnay smoked sea salt
1 bottle chili sauce

1 cup Pepper Jelly

(1) Roast garlic head and cool. Make paste with roasted garlic. (2) Soak dried onion in ¼ cup warm water. (3) Mix all ingredients and shape in to 1 inch meatballs. (4) Brown in a non-stick pan with a small amount of olive oil. Drain and set aside. (5) Combine 1 cup Pepper Jelly and 1 bottle in chili sauce in a pan and simmer until warm. (6) Add meatballs and warmed sauce to a crock pot. Set crock pot to warm which will gently permeate the meatballs with the mouth-watering sauce.

These meatballs are spicy while being sweet. They are tangy while being mellow. They are bold and diverse. You can serve them with toothpicks or propped on top of French bread slices. What more can ask for? You will be the star. These meatballs are easy with terrific flavors AND they can be made a head of time. May I make a suggestion? Make a double batch or triple batch. You can never have too many of Gin's Sweet and Spicy meatballs on hand.