All we can think about lately are dumplings as we gear up for February’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music from  Dumplin’ (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Dolly Parton courtesy of SONY Music on Tuesday, February 12, 2019.  

The film, Dumplin’ is based on the book of the same name by Julie Murphy. It tells the story of Willowdean “Dumplin'” Dickson (actress Danielle Macdonald), the plus-sized teenage daughter of former beauty queen Rosie Dickson (actress Jennifer Aniston), who signs up for her mom’s teenage pageant as a protest.

“Netflix’s Dumpin’ film has an emotionally impactful message of self-acceptance, wrapped in a charming coming-of-age story and steeped in Dolly Parton music,” says ScreenRant. 

I reached out to my friend, Best-Selling Cookbook Author Holly Clegg for a healthy dumpling recipe.

“This ultimate comfort food and soothing soup is made with rotisserie chicken and chicken and drop dumplings and is ready in no time at all!,” says Holly Clegg.  

Easy Chicken and Dumplings from Holly Clegg’s KITCHEN 101 cookbook

Ingredients 

1 onion, chopped

1 cup baby carrots

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

6 cups fat-free low sodium chicken broth, divided

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

2 cups chopped skinless rotisserie chicken breast

2 cups biscuit baking mix

2/3 cup skim milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

1. In large nonstick pot coated with nonstick cooking spray, sauté onion, carrots, and garlic over medium heat until tender.

2. In small cup, stir flour and 1/3 cup chicken broth, mixing until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture and remaining broth to pot; bring to boil. Add thyme and chicken.

3. In bowl, stir together biscuit baking mix and milk. Drop the mixture by spoonfuls into boiling broth.

4. Return to boil, reduce heat, and cook, covered, carefully stirring occasionally, 15-20 minutes or until dumplings are done. Season to taste. If soup is too thick, add more chicken broth.

Makes 8 (1-cup) servings

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 212, Calories from Fat 22%, Fat 5g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 32mg, Sodium 563mg, Carbohydrates 26g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Total Sugars 4g, Protein 15g, Dietary Exchanges: 1 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 1/2 lean meat

Terrific Tip: A short-cut for dumplings: cut flaky biscuits into fourths and drop into boiling broth or you can even use flour tortillas cut into fourths. You can slice carrots — but I find baby carrots a time-saver.

With over 1.5 million cookbooks sold, Holly Clegg has become a culinary expert on easy healthy everyday recipes through her nationally recognized best-selling trim &TERRIFIC®, Kitchen 101 and Eating Well cookbook series, including Eating Well Through Cancer, (English, Spanish and Chinese editions), Eating Well to Fight Arthritis and Diabetic Cooking with the American Diabetes Association. Holly Clegg attended the Cordon Bleu Cooking School, London. For more information, visit About Holly or The Healthy Cooking Blog for more recipes and tips.

LISTEN NOW: Mr. Divabetic shines the spotlight on author and chef, Holly Clegg, in this half-hour special edition of Diva Talk Radio. This fun-filled food frenzy will feature expert advice on quick, flavorful and healthy eating from Holly’s latest book, ‘Too Hot in the Kitchen:  Secrets to Sizzle at Any Age’

Tune in to February’s Diabetes Late NIte podcast with musical inspiration from Dolly Parton on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 6 PM, EST. We’re talking about ‘SELF ACCEPTANCE & DIABETES’ with Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr.Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP,  Lisa R Young, PhD, RDN and more.  TUNE IN