Chicken and Dumplings

Comfort food alert!

We had a little warm up around these parts, but let's be honest. It's still winter. It's still cold. We need some comfort food to stick to our bones. And this recipe is a kitchen classic you'll be enjoying for years to come.

I was thinking one night about how I could do some kind of fun twist on Chicken and Dumplings when I realized I just wanted pure, classic chicken and dumplings. And that's EXACTLY what this recipe is. You can make this dish in no time at all, with ingredients you likely already have hanging in your pantry and fridge.

The thing about chicken and dumplings is it's essentially like eating a big bowl of delicious chicken soup and dunking a yummy piece of bread in it...but the BREAD has already been dunked for your eating pleasure! It's genius really. The bread "bakes" in the hot soup, soaking in the delicious flavors. How great does that sound?! Mmm, I'm craving another bowl right now!

Sesame Green Beans

Look at these beauties!

These Sesame Green Beans are an exercise in simplicity. They are crisp. A little spicy. Pumped up with sesame. And freshened up with a sprinkling of scallions. I love them deeply and I'm sure you will too. 

I was inspired to create this recipe after having a very similar Asian green bean salad from an adorable little market in Maine a couple of summers ago. It was simple and refreshing, perfect as a starter or a side. That's exactly what I wanted with this recipe, with the added bonus of being able to prep this well ahead of time! 

Obviously, the stars of this show are fresh green beans and a bit of sesame oil. I start by quickly steaming the green beans, for just about 5 to 7 minutes, then blanching them in ice water. This will keep them a bright and vibrant green as well as perfectly crispy and toothy. Once the beans are chilled, all that's left to do is whisk up the dressing. Sesame oil, lime juice, a splash of soy sauce, olive oil, and red pepper flakes. Simple but composed. The perfect mix of toasty, tart and salty. 

Toss the beans in the dressing. Pop 'em in the fridge to marinate for a few minutes up to a couple of hours. Sprinkle on some sesame seeds and chopped scallions before serving. Give yourself a pat on the back because you just made a bomb.com dish that will make even your pickiest eaters eat their vegetables :-)