The Great Dumpling Debate...

Who doesn't love a big giant bowl of chicken and dumplings on a cold winter night?? I don't know about you but I've found that nobody makes chicken & dumplings the same... I like my dumplings to be soft, fluffy and biscuit like but I've found that no one else makes them this way. At Cracker Barrel they are large noodle like things that have no resemblance to a dumpling. I've seen countless Pins on Pinterest that are copy cat Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings but I haven't seen any the way that I make them. My oldest stayed the night with her BFF (as she would say) and her mom made chicken and dumplings. She said it was really good but it wasn't chicken and dumplings, it was chicken and noodles. I make my dumplings with Bisquick, milk, and pepper. That is it, 3 ingredients. Then I drop them in a pot of boiling chicken broth and shredded chicken. My husband insists on eating it with crackers but I think it is perfect with out them! My mom taught me how to make this recipe and I hope my daughters grow up and make this recipe for their families. And then maybe, just maybe, my way might become a little more popular. If you've never tried chicken and dumplings my way, you should try it at least once! It might just change your mind!

What's your favorite way to make dumplings?



Chicken & Dumplings Recipe
"The Tuomala Way"

One whole chicken
3 1/2 Cups Bisquick
1 1/4 cup Milk
1 tsp. Pepper

First I wash my chicken off and then put it in a big pot and cover it with water. I add some Italian seasoning and a couple of bay leaves to it. Then I let it simmer on low heat until it is falling apart. I pull the chicken out of the pot and let it cool enough to be able to handle it. Then I pick the meat from the bones and skin. I then throw the skin and bones back into the pot to make a more flavorful stock for the dumplings. I let the stock simmer for about an hour and then I take it off the heat and let it cool. I then skim the fat off the top and strain it in to a clean pot.

Add the shredded chicken back to the broth and put on medium high heat. You want to get a good rolling boil going.

Now it's time to make the dumplings! Grab a big bowl and add the Bisquick, milk, and pepper. Stir until combined. You want it to be a little wet looking.

When the stock is at a rolling boil add the dumplings in. I like to use my wood spoons and just grab a little dough and drop it in the stock.

Once you get all your dumplings in turn the heat down to low. I usually put the lid on titled to the let the steam out but sometimes I end up making too much to be able to do that! Let them cook for about 10 minutes and then break the dumpling apart and stir it around. This will help thicken the stock up. Let it cook for another 10 minutes or so. The dumplings should be fluffy all the way through and not look doughy at all.. Is doughy even a word? It is now! Ha! 

So it isn't the prettiest looking meal but it is one of my all time favorite comfort foods! The taste makes up for the appearance! Spoon it into some bowls and let it cool for a couple of minutes.. It is always too hot for my little ones! 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! 

New Year's Resolutions..

I'm not too big on new year's resolutions but this year I decided to hop on the wagon. My resolution for this year is to start taking dance classes again! I really miss it and I am super excited to start a tap and jazz class on Thursday. Although I already feel a little guilty because Thursday is the littlest ones 2nd birthday. She already had her birthday party though...

Yes, she is eating cake in her pajamas with her snow hat on! She insisted on it!

 I am also setting some simple goals for the year as a family. We started the 52 week money challenge. I saw the idea here on a mitten full of savings. I also want to take a real vacation this year. I'm talking Disney World or the beach. Somewhere besides going to see family and to Silver Dollar City in Branson! I'm also wanting to have a booth at a boutique or craft show this year. I've been trying to get enough signs and fun stuff made to have a small booth. I've posted some new items on my etsy shop. Check it out here! 

Anyone else have any resolutions or goals for the new year?

Snowed in...

I have been cooped up in the house for 5 days! 5 days with 4 kids, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and 1 hamster inside 1 house. It has been a MAD house here! We finally braved the roads last night to go to Lowe's and Target for the rest of our Christmas decorations. It was horrific! Every single road is a sheet of ice... except the highway and there were a ton of idiots driving on the highway. When we were getting on the highway the car in front of us was following the car in front of them WAY too close and ended up in the big snow pile on the side of the road because they couldn't stop in time. My wonderful husband tried to push the lady with ballet flats on out of the snow but it did not work. I mean really who wears ballet flats when it is 20 degrees outside with an inch of ice and a foot of snow! 

On Friday I decided to get everyone ready and have an adventure in the snow. Well, it took 45 minutes to round up everyone's gloves, hats, boots, coats, extra layer of clothes and then get them all dressed at the same time.

 

Everyone was having a good time playing and trying to make a snowman and then this happened....

If you noticed in the pictures above she had two different Minnie Mouse toys in her hands. Well the snow was too deep for her to really walk in and she fell and both of her Minnie Mouse toys were covered in snow. She was devastated! 

So... we spent all of 15 minutes outside in the snow. The older two decided they still wanted to play so they played another 10 to 15 minutes in the backyard with the dogs and cat. 

It has been a productive few days for me though! I opened an Etsy shop, check it out here! I just put the last coat of polyurethane on my kitchen table. (pictures to come soon!) I got my Christmas tree up, finally. And we hung our stockings and decorated the mantle. 

I'm definitely ready for my hubby to be home the next couple of days! I'm kinda hoping for another snow day tomorrow so the girls get to spend some time with him too! Shhh... don't tell! As I'm writing this all of the girls have disappeared and it has gotten really quiet... Hmm... I better go check! Hope everyone has a great Monday!

Yummy goodness!

Last night I made one of my favorite recipes for leftover ham. It's a potato and ham bake!

The stars of the dish

Potato & Ham Bake

Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens

Ingredients:

1 pound  Yukon gold potatoes, sliced

1 8  ounce tub  light cream cheese spread with chive and onion

3/4 cup  milk 

1/4 cup  finely shredded Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon  snipped fresh tarragon or 1/2 tsp. dried tarragon, crushed

8 ounces  cooked boneless ham, cut in bite-sized slices

1 pound  fresh asparagus spears, trimmed, cut in 2 to 3-inch pieces

Tarragon sprigs (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In medium saucepan cook potatoes, covered, in small amount of lightly salted boiling water 5 to 7 minutes, just until tender. Drain; transfer to bowl and set aside. 

2. For sauce, in same saucepan combine cream cheese, milk, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Heat and whisk until smooth and cheese is melted. Remove from heat; stir in tarragon.

3. Layer potatoes, ham, asparagus, and sauce in 1-1/2-quart baking dish. Bake, covered, 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle remaining Parmesan. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Top with tarragon and freshly ground black pepper. Serves 4.

Ready to put in the oven!

Notes: 

I always use russet potatoes because I always have them. I have never used the tarragon either because I never have it on hand. And there are never any leftovers when I make this! 

Yummy!!

Fit Mom vs Curvy Girl

I saw a news story on Good Morning America yesterday that has made me think a lot about the subject.

Here is a link to the video: Fit Mom vs. Curvy Girl

After watching this video and reading more about both ladies, I'm torn between their views. There are things that I agree with and disagree with from both sides.

I was pretty fit when I got pregnant with my first. I was a dancer and loved it. I was very active. But I was diagnosed with preeclampsia during my pregnancy and put on bed rest. I gained 78lbs, most of it from all the water weight from being swollen. After I gave birth I lost all but 15lbs in the first two weeks. My mom had always told me how much having a baby changes your body but I have NO idea how much. I was left with this awful stomach covered in stretch marks and a very bad body image of myself. I avoided any full length mirror around. I didn't feel comfortable in any of my clothes. It has only gotten worse with each of the girls. I try to tell myself it isn't that bad and it is the marks left by giving life to these amazing little girls but it is still hard to look at sometimes. My husband reassures me that I'm beautiful and I want to believe him so bad. When I see articles of these mom with perfect abs and a completely flat stomach and no stretch marks I always think to myself, if they only knew what some of us other moms are struggling through they might be more sympathetic. Every body is different, so for one woman to say that everyone should strive to have a body like hers is just unrealistic. Although on the other hand, I don't know any woman who is over weight (including myself) who doesn't want to lose some weight.

So when I read these stories about women arguing over body image it really gets to me. As a mom and a woman I think we should all encourage each other in whatever we are comfortable in! We should get to know each other and not be afraid to talk about how we feel. We live in this world where if you have something wrong with you or you are struggling with something you should just keep it to yourself. You should be this strong, tough, happy, smiling, woman and never let your true emotions show. I believe we should never judge anyone for any reason. Yes, I know it is a lot harder to do than to just say it. I know I am guilty of it and I know people judge me as a young mother of 4. I believe we deserve to let ourselves be happy and be OK knowing we aren't perfect and we don't have to be perfect just because someone is always judging us.

The crazy weather....

The last couple of days have been pretty nice days with warm weather and sunny skies but not today. School has been cancelled and we are expecting at least a 1/2 inch of ice and then 6 inches of snow on top of the ice! The girls are coloring and making a big mess in the living room. They are writing letters to Santa, the elves, and every single reindeer! They don't want to leave anyone out. 

And I am enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee in my pj's. I'm making the plan for the day on what projects I want to work on. I've got two different signs in the works and my kitchen table needs two more coats of polyurethane. I also need to set up my Christmas tree... Yes, I'm a slacker this year. I usually put it up the day after Thanksgiving but we were out of town and have been super busy ever since then! Maybe that will get pushed to the front of the list today.. 

I'm making a super yummy recipe tonight with the leftover ham I have from the other day! I will post the recipe and some pictures tonight. Also be on the lookout for a post about how I make my signs and all the other projects I'm working on!

Welcome to my crazy life!

Hello! Welcome to my blog, The Rusted Door!  I’m glad you stopped by. My name is Daphne and I am a stay at home mom. My husband is Paul and we have 4 daughters. Yes, I said FOUR daughters! They are 7, 5, 3 and almost 2. We also have 2 dogs, a cat and a hamster!

I love cooking and baking. I enjoy trying new and interesting recipes. I also like building and painting things. I have been making pallet wood signs and I’m almost done refinishing my kitchen table. It has been a long process.

I’m still trying to figure out how to balance all the cleaning, laundry, and daily activities with 4 girls. There just aren't enough hours in the day! I hope that you enjoy reading my posts about the daily life in our house and the fun projects and recipes I make.

Photo Credit:Corinthian's House Photography