~Plato

In this case, necessity was the mother of me reinvention. The last couple of months I've been cutting back on expenses and food was an area that saw some cutbacks. This led to some creative meals with my almost non-existent food storage. But I was getting sick of tomato bean stews and wimpy pasta dishes. I needed something more satisfying, and not just for my stomach, but also my soul!

That's when I fully became addicted to food porn. I'd dabbled in it before, when I'd been down for two weeks after a surgery, but once I got busy with school and work, the addiction seemed to vanish.

Hindsight is 20/20 and now I know that it didn't vanish. It was only lying dormant, waiting for the perfect time to get me back into it's delicious clutches. The sleeping beast was woken, mainly due to the photos provided by Deb of SmittenKitchen.com. Yes, Nigella, Martha and Bobby had all kept a my food passion at a low simmer ever since the surgery, but nothing got the fire stoked like Deb's pictures of soft pretzels.

To truly understand the impact these pretzels had one me you have to understand two things:1. I am NOT a pretzel person and 2. Pretzels from scratch call for yeast. Ever since my first and last experience with a yeast bread, I do NOT do yeast.

Long story short, it's been less than 2 weeks and in that amount of time I've gone from Hot Pocket girl to domestic goddess! I'm not just baking, I'm making dishes and meals that are mouthwatering and wholesome and seriously soul feeding. I'm experimenting with ingredients that I previously didn't like and trying out new ingredients and new recipes.

I wasn't planning on my post to be about how I've gone from a dabbling foodie to someone who is rapidly descending into food obsession (and for those of you who know me and thought I was already addicted, all I can say is that isn't only going to get worse). I was only planning on posting some pics and comments about the Chicken and Dill Dumplings I made this evening.
I use to ask my mom to make chicken and dumplings. I don't remember her original version because I'd always ask her to make me the kind like you'd buy at the store. I'm not really sure what kind you buy at the store, but I know how I love my chicken and dumplings. The sauce has to be creamy, the chicken has to be really tender, the dumplings have to be extra flavorful and there must be an abundance of peas.

Martha Stewart's show, Everyday Food, had an episode featuring one pot meals. This recipe jumped out at me because of it's simplicity and it's simple, yet oh-so-perfect-together flavors. And if I'm being 100% honest, it is that time of the year when I have my chicken and dumpling cravings.

I didn't read the directions thoroughly, so when I was making the rue I put in the whole cup of flour, instead of keeping 3/4 out for the dumplings. I was really tired and I was a little discouraged by the thought of having to start all over, but my craving kept me going and in the end it was worth all the extra time. For being as tired as I was/am, I did a lot of cooking in the last 24 hours. I made crepes, chicken and dumplings, chocolate mousse and started a bread dough.
I'd also like to mention that I think my photography is getting better. The lighting in my kitchen is still a problem but I'm working on it. I'll try posting pics of some of the other things that are coming out of my kitchen this weekend. :)