Chicken and Dumpling Soup {Recipe}

I love Chicken and Dumplings. Usually I make the a traditional recipe, and the dumplings are made from scratch.

One night a few months ago I had a dream I made Chicken and Dumpling Soup. It was go good!

Nom Nom Chicken and Dumpling Soup!

I didn't even look up recipes. I knew I saw potato dumplings somewhere, and thought they'd be perfect for this soup. The homemade ones I typically make would get soggy, and wouldn't work. The question is: Where did I see potato dumplings? I looked at two grocery stores I usually go to, and they weren't there. Finally I found the potato dumplings at Big Lots. I made sure to pick up a few packages if this recipe was as good as it was in my dream.

I have to say, it's a good thing I picked up 2 packages of dumplings! Chicken and Dumpling Soup is amazing! My family must of agreed...they gobbled it up!

I just used some of the ingredients I've used in my regular Chicken and Dumpling recipe. I added more vegetables. One thing I used to do, that I don't do anymore is shave off the carrot skin. I leave it on.

It took about a half hour to 45 minutes to make. I paired it up with homemade blueberry muffins and a side of green beans. One can never have too many veggies.

Ingredients:

• Olive Oil (To Cover the Pan) or 2 Tablespoons of Butter
• 1 Big Onion
• 1 Garlic Clove
• 3 Carrots
• 3 Celery Stalks
• 1/2 a Container of Mushrooms
• A Handful of Spinach Leaves
• 2 Italian Sausage Links
• 2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 2 Cups Chicken Broth
• 4 Cups of Water
• Salt & Pepper to Taste
• 1 Teaspoon Marjoram
• 1 Package of Potato Dumpling

Chicken and Dumpling Soup by on Scribd

Directions:

Drizzle the non stick pan with olive oil, or heat up the butter.

Start Chopping:

I chopped one veggie at a time, and added it in in this order: Onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms.

Stir often, cook until the veggies are tender. Add in a handful of spinach leaves. At this point I put the lid on to make the spinach wilt faster.

I put the veggies into one of our soup bowls. I'm all about using as little dishes as possible.

Cook the Italian Sausage, and break it up as it cooks. Set aside in a different soup bowl.

Cook the diced chicken until it's no longer pink.

Add the veggies and Italian Sausage back into the pot.

Pour in the water and chicken broth. Add the salt, pepper, and Marjoram. Heat back up, and add in the potato dumplings.

Heat back up, and serve.

It was perfect! Have you ever cooked or baked in a dream?

Random Tid Bits

1. It sucks that my nephew Emerson (age 7) has 5 or so seizures a day. :(
   
   I couldn't help, but to laugh when my sister told me my nephew Edison (age 4 almost 5) fakes seizures to get attention. Even my sister found it funny at first.


2. It's so rainy in the midwest today. I'm prewriting, so it's actually Wednesday. Expect that food prices may go up. Some farmers are having floods. We had 5" of snow, then 5" more, and now 5" of rain is supposed to happen. Between that was more rain and snow, but too hard to measure.
   
   Many people don't really think much of Iowa and Nebraska, but it's where much of your food sources come from. 


3. I don't seek out watching The Bachelor. If anything I'm against the idea of it. Dating multiple people at once is a bad idea. Sometimes the TV is on, it comes on, and it sucks me in. The latest guy Colton - let's just say that I respected him for being a virgin. I disrespected the host for bringing it up multiple times like he was an alien for it. Some people do choose to wait, and that's ok. I'm sure many people that have waited don't talk about it. Therefore it's not of the norm. 


4.  I was really excited to of gotten both of my children in the most popular camp with their cousin Elijah. It will be Mica's last year to be in it. Evan - the cousin that's Mica's age is a year ahead of him in school, so he's already booted out.


5. My Dad got me this book The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth, hoping it would help with my allergies:







The book is interesting. Some stuff I do, and would be willing to try. I'm not anti natural healing.

I don't believe in good feng shui in your house. Ok, so the placement of furniture matters slightly. Don't put a TV where you are going to get lots of glares. Don't put something solid in front of an air vent. Does correct placement bring positive vibes? I don't think so.

Sure essential oils are great smelling, and can be excellent to add to cleaners. Do they cure everything? They may cure some things, but not everything. 

Crystals, rocks, gem stones, pink himalayan salt lamps all look cool, but in my mind they don't bring you positive energy, or zap out sickness.

All the sudden Isaak found the book above. He thinks he can cure anyone of anything. 

Isaak: "Mom I feel like I had bad breath the other day. I think I need an Oregano Oil pill." Travis and I both rolled our eyes at one another. Yes it may work, but he's believing it all! 

Isaak: "Mom I scraped my knee. I need to put tea tree oil on it." Travis thought I told him to do that. I put a little on a cotton ball, and patted it on his knee. Maybe it will help.

Is it Christopher Walken?

We were walking through Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska and all the sudden I saw this piece:

I said to Travis, "If anyone were to play the roll of this painted guy it would have to be a slightly younger Christoper Walken. Do you think he could play the roll of the painted guy above?

I can't help, but to think Christoper Walken, or Robert Wagner had something to do with Natalie Wood's death. One of them knows something. I think there was only 4 people on that boat when she died. The only remaining person is the one driving the boat. 

The fact that Christoper Walken typically plays a freaky role makes me suspicious of him. Let's put it this way...I wouldn't want to be in a dark ally with the guy. Does he give you the creeps? 

WW: Basquiat {linky}

I've always liked Jean-Michel Basquiat's work. It's raw, but interesting and unlike some of modern work it has a focal point. There was a movie called Basquiat. David Bowie played one of Basquiat's best friend's Andy Warhol.

Bowie looks like Andy Warhol here, right?

We got a chance to see a Basquiat at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska.

Award Ceremony - Breakfast of Champions

A few weeks ago we were invited to go to Mica's school, for his award ceremony.

The room was full of people! They don't just award one person first place. They did award a limited amount of people.

I skipped out of work to go. Last year I didn't go, and had Travis went instead.

The breakfast was good!

They awarded each kid with a medal. All the kids in the room got A's on their projects. Some kid's projects get to go to the zoo for another round. Mica's isn't going to that this year, but it did last year. when that happens they go against different schools.

Fun little fact: My maiden name is Spiehs, said like Sp-(long) eee-ss. I never see anyone else with that last name. There are 2 kids that go to school with Mica with that last name. We must be related somehow. 

Mica seemed like he didn't want to be there. He doesn't seem to like it when we come to his sanctuary - school. Suck it up buttercup! 

He snubbed the wild cat when it came to shaking his/her hand. He typically shakes hands well.

He didn't want me to take his picture. Too bad!

It is cool that they gave out medals.

#NancyDrew and #TheHiddenStaircase Swag Pack #Giveaway

Disclosure: **“Warner Bros. provided me with a swag pack to facilitate this post. The opinions I share are my own.”**

I love movies and shows that are from old books. While I didn't really get into Nancy Drew, I know a lot of people did! Possibly I just wasn't introduced to Nancy Drew. I do love mysteries!

Who doesn’t love an epic mystery?

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase is an all-new film coming to theaters on March 15 from Warner Bros., Ellen DeGeneres’ A Very Good Production and Red 56. I think Ellen DeGeneres is so funny! She's probably a great fit for this film!

The iconic mystery solving teenager from the classic Nancy Drew books is back with an all-new feature length film that will keep you guessing until the very end!

About Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase Theatrical:

After the death of his wife, Carson Drew decides to leave Chicago behind and make a fresh start with his daughter 16-year-old daughter Nancy in River Heights. Nancy is asked by Flora to help solve the ghostly activity at her home, the Twin Elms mansion. Can she help explain the creaking footsteps, exploding lightbulbs and the ominous creature? Is it the handiwork of high-school bully Derek Barnes? Or is it possible that the ghost of original owner Malcolm Colfax is back for revenge? Recruiting her best friends George and Bess, along with local “mean girl” Helen, Nancy Drew is on the case!

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase stars:

Sophia Lillis (IT and “Sharp Objects”) as Nancy Drew
Sam Trammell (“True Blood” and “This is Us”) as Carson Drew (Nancy’s father)
Linda Lavin (“The Good Wife” and Alice) as Flora
Andrea Anders (“Joey” and “Better Off Ted”) as Hannah (Nancy’s Aunt)
Laura Slade Wiggins (“Shameless”) as Helen
Zoe Renee (“The Quad”) as George
Mackenzie Graham (The Purge) as Bess

Check out the Nancy Drew Escape Room app:

Swag Prize Pack includes:

- Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase - film t-shirt

- Nancy Drew Escape Room Sticker Sheet (4"x6")

- Nancy Drew - Earbuds & pouch

Time for the giveaway!

Each household is only eligible to win Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase – Theatrical Pack via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. The winner is subject to eligibility verification. Must be 18+ to enter. No P.O. Boxes please. Open to the US only. Good Luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure Reminders: **“Warner Bros. provided me with a swag pack to facilitate this post. The opinions I share are my own.”**

#30Americans @joslynartmuseum Nick Cave's #soundsuits #art

Are you familiar to Nick Cave's work? It's pretty cool. I watched a documentary on him, on Amazon.

At Joslyn Art Museum they showed some of his work at a special show:

At the end of the show they had a craft for families:

I thought it was going to be really crafty, but then what I saw what they were doing with our crafts I was interested.

We were given a felt square, lots of foam pieces, and glitter glue.

Mine didn't turn out as good as Isaak's. I went with fall type colors.

Isaak went very 3D! The people up front really liked his!

What were we doing? We were part of a Soundsuit.

I wish I could have seen the mannequin fully covered!

It would be fun to make a Soundsuit for Halloween, but people may not know what it is. 

Have you seen Nick Cave's Soundsuits anywhere?

Random Tid Bits

1. Mica's going through yet another transitional time with growing up. He forgets about 4 snack bowls in his room (thankfully they were all empty). He has no interest in doing any extras. He's in Quiz Bowl - that's plenty in his mind. Gawd forbid he hang out with his cousins for a board game night and pizza, sign up for camps for the summer, or a special academy (Zoo or Health) that his school offers next year.
   
   He gets embarrassed by me at his school now. I've always been his cuddle person, and I'm goofy. Maybe he thinks I'm going to cuddle up with him in the cafeteria? Possibly he thinks I'm going to say something that puts him on the spot. I don't know what's going on in his head. Growing pains are hard!





2. We keep having storage units going up in Omaha. They have Biblical quotes that are demeaning, and they have the ugliest logo. Do you have this storage unit where you live? They are popping up all over. 





3. I knew it was supposed to snow on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, but didn't know it was going to come down so hard. It snowed 5". We got a call that Mica got yet another snow day. Parking lots are actually smaller because there's no room for snow. 





4. I'm a bit obsessed about True Crimes lately. I think I've watched or listened to every video on Chris Watts. I like Tori Hartman's channel. I just listen to it, while I'm working on other things. I think that Watts case has hit me hard because it makes me realize that Travis thinks I'm nuts when I start going on and on about certain cases. 


5. Travis' chair design got accepting to this:




A mock up! Now he has to make the real thing!




Now he's ultra busy. He really doesn't want to hear about my interest in the Chris Watts case.

#30Americans @joslynartmuseum #art

My family went to a show this weekend at Joslyn Art Museum called 30 Americans. The museum is free to enter, but their special exhibits do cost money. They happened to have a special free weekend for the show. The show is up until May.

It's interesting...I gravitate to what looks good with color, pattern, texture, a focal point... My husband gravitates to what means more. If I think the piece isn't very aesthetically pleasing I don't even read the description.

Sorry about the glare, but I love the patterns and colors of these two!

A different artist, but still full of pattern and color!

The next piece is aesthetically pleasing, and gigantic!

Detail:

Out of the box thinking Soundsuits by Nick Cave!

These next ones have a lot of cool visual texture. It looks like a map, or cracks in the ground.

Detail:

Another Detail:

The next two are super organic - made of wood and fibers:

These are the images I couldn't get into. Do you ever feel this way about art? I think art is like music. Some pieces you like, some you don't. Same goes with food. Think of all the egg eaters out there...some people like them scrambled, some hard boiled, some soft boiled, some over easy, some poached and well you get the point. Certain pieces you can't get into. I try so hard to be open minded, but there are some pieces that either A) Don't make me feel anything, or B) Break the rules of art, and it their breaking the rules doesn't work.

The first one has a horrible composition. I hate how that bottom guy is chopped off.

The second one has a great message, but just lacks a focal point.

The last one was cool that it was a visual story, but looks like vinyl stickers on a wall, and not high end museum art to me.

Artist's in the Show:

Nina Chanel Abney (b. 1982, Chicago, IL); John Bankston (b. 1963, Benton Harbor, Ml); Jean-Michel Basquiat (b. 1960, Brooklyn, NY; d. 1988, New York, NY); Mark Bradford (b. 1961, Los Angeles, CA); Nick Cave (b. 1959, Jefferson City, MO); Robert Colescott (b. 1925, Oakland, CA; d. 2009, Tucson, AZ); Noah Davis (b. 1983, Seattle, WA; d. 2015, Los Angeles, CA); Leonardo Drew (b. 1961, Tallahassee, FL); Renée Green (b. 1959, Cleveland, OH); David Hammons (b. 1943, Springfield, IL); Barkley L. Hendricks (b. 1945, Philadelphia, PA; d. 2017, New London, CT); Rashid Johnson (b. 1977, Chicago, IL); Glenn Ligon (b. 1960, Bronx, NY); Kalup Linzy (b. 1977, Stuckey, FL); Kerry James Marshall (b. 1955, Birmingham, AL); Rodney McMillian (b. 1969, Columbia, SC); Wangechi Mutu (b. 1972, Nairobi, Kenya); Pope.L (b. 1955, Newark, NJ); Rozeal (b. 1966, Washington, D.C.); Gary Simmons (b. 1964, New York, NY); Xaviera Simmons (b. 1974, New York, NY); Lorna Simpson (b. 1960, Brooklyn, NY); Shinique Smith (b. 1971, Baltimore, MD); Henry Taylor (b. 1958, Oxnard, CA); Hank Willis Thomas (b. 1976, Plainfield, NJ); Mickalene Thomas (b. 1971, Camden, NJ); Kara Walker (b. 1969, Stockton, CA); Carrie Mae Weems (b. 1953, Portland, OR); Kehinde Wiley (b. 1977, Los Angeles, CA); Purvis Young (b. 1943, Miami, FL; d. 2010, Miami, FL).

The Oregon Trail #game @GoliathGamesUS Review

We've had many snow days this year. We refused to let our boys play video games and watch movies all day, every day.

Instead they typed up stories for a writing contest that the library puts on every year, and played board games. 

One fun pick: The Oregon Trail Game.

It took us two trial runs before we understood the game totally. Once we got it, it was so easy! 

The video on Pressman's site made it easier to set up and understand.

Game Pieces:

• 1 Game Board

• 48 Trail Tiles
• 32 Coins

• 1 Die

• 1 Hunting Stand
• Cards: 25 Hunting, 56 Calamities, 8 Wagon Upgrades, 8 Market Pieces

• 50 Small Supplies: 12 Pistols, 10 Compasses, 10 Medicine, 40 Meat

• 20 Large Supplies: 4 Shotguns, 6 Wagon Parts, 6 Winter Clothes, 4 Hitchhikers

• Player Pieces: 4 Wagons, 4 Boards, 4 Purple Family Members, 4 Yellow Family Members, 4 Red Family Members, 4 Blue Family Members

• Complete Instructions and Game Cards

Game Description:
 It's a survival game.

It’s 1844: You and your family have joined a wagon train in Independence, MO that is about to head to Willamette Valley to find your fortune in the West! Players will place tiles to discover the trails, rivers, forts, and towns ahead of them that they will move through to this new land. This scenic journey would almost be perfect… if it wasn’t for the disease, drowning, rattlesnakes and other hazards that will plague you along the way. You’ll need to hunt for food to avoid starvation, and with limited wagon space, you may need to choose between supplies and family members to keep moving along the trail. Until, eventually, you find yourself safe, in Willamette Valley. Relive your fond memories of one of the world’s most beloved computer games as you race your friends to victory in “The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley.”

Players:

This game is for 2 to 4 players. It's for ages 14 and up, although Isaak is 10 1/2, and seemed to grasp the game.

Set Up:
  Mica watched the video, and set the game up. There are a lot of pieces. I can certainly understand why it's for ages 14 and up.

I had Dad join the boys to play a third game. Mica likes to make up rules, or change them to fit his best interest.

The look on Isaak's face says it all. Mica kept changing the rules to the game.

I stopped playing to make dinner. They are so funny to listen to!

Isaak: Aunt Angie would have died in the beginning of the game! There’s no room, for vegetarians.

Travis: You mean there’s no cannibalism? Back in the day they ate people when they were desperate!

Mica: Broke Out in Song, “Feed my family! I got some brothers and sisters with me!”

The card in the front of each player tells you the steps, so you don't forget anything. It's important to follow the steps. That's what we had problems with, with Mica. He forgot to do certain things, and wanted to go back to do them. We already had trial runs, so he knew how to play. Even though Isaak's younger he followed the rules pretty well. He did get sad when his people didn't get fed because he was out of money. That's kind of how the game works though. 

Overall it was fun! It wasn't a short, or long game. It did seem long because we played it 3 times. They got one game played in the time it took me to make dinner, and serve it. Probably about an hour. I did hear a lot of laughing. It was nostalgic for me. I used to play the game in grade school, on the computer. Travis never played it. He had a limited childhood. Ha!

Where to get it? 

Pick up this game at Target for $39.99.

Have you played any version of The Oregon Trail? 

Disclaimer: Pressmen sent me this game to help with this review. They in no way influenced what I wrote, or my opinions.