Turkey and Dumpling Stew

Have you ever gotten the question: " What would you do if money weren't an option?" during a job interview? It seems a particularly tortuous question, and one I've heard far too often, but have no idea how to answer.

 If they want an honest answer, I'd have to say first off I'd never go to another job interview, because they're stressful as hell. I twitch and re-position myself endlessly in the chair , struggle to use good body language and make eye contact, dying to get out of the inquisition and nylon stockings

 Second of all,  I'd have to say I'd open a restaurant, staff it with wonderful cooks, bakers, baristas' and bartenders, and be off every weekend to my house in Jamaica. 

I guess I'm not sure what exactly they want to hear to that particular question.

Anyway, it's still snowing every day here in the Mid-west, and it's starting to make people grouchy.  When I begrudgingly scraped 50 pounds of soaking wet ice/snow off my car at 5:30 a.m. for the thousandth time this year, I frowned so hard my face hurt the whole ride to work. I also shook my ice-scraper at the sky, and made up a few new swear words as I slipped around in the nastiness. It really feels like the dead of winter here still. And since we are going to be eating soup year round here this year, I made some Turkey Dumpling Stew the other day to cheer us up.

Turkey and Dumpling Stew

-2 cups chopped cooked turkey

• 6 cups water
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 t. black pepper
• 1 T. parsley


• 1 medium chopped onion
• 1 cup green beans
• 1/2 cup  corn
• 1/2 cup peas
• 1/1/2 cup egg noodles

Directions:

• In a stock pot, saute' the onion, bay leaves, celery and carrots 5-7 minutes until fragrant. Add all ingredients other than egg noodles, peas, beans and corn and simmer 25 minutes. Add egg noodles, peas, beans and corn then place dumplings on top and simmer as directed below.

Dumplings:

-1 cup flour

-1 t. baking powder

-1 t. sugar

-1/2 t. salt

-1 T. butter

-1/2 cup milk

-1 T. parsley

1. Stir together flour, parsley, baking powder, sugar, and salt in medium size bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk to make a soft dough.
2. Drop by spoonfuls into boiling stew. Cover and simmer 15 minutes without lifting lid. Serve.

Aw man,  cute as a dumpling, don't you think? Salty stock and soft veggies are well balanced by the tender noodles and dumplings.

We made this for a family get-together, and no one could get enough of this comforting stew.

People often make this with Bisquick mix, but it's just so easy and healthy to make your own, maybe you should try it. They're much better in flavor than the box stuff. And cheaper. And healthier. I could go on and on about why you should just make your own. Hopefully it warms up once and for all so I can start cooking spring appropriate foods... Enjoy!