With the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season right around the corner, we think now is the perfect time to slow things down a bit, surround yourself with family, and friends, and enjoy a quick and easy meal that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Let’s make plans to stay in—at least for dinner—and make a meal that is sure to please absolutely everyone in your family.
Chicken and Dumplings
Servings: 8
Ingredients
3 chicken breasts sliced thin
6 chicken bouillon cubes
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 bay leaf
1 medium onion or 1 bunch of green onions, chopped
3 large carrots, sliced
3 stalks celery, sliced
4 cups water
Rosemary sprig for garnish
Dumplings
2 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening (I prefer Crisco for best results.)
2 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. In a large pot, combine 4 cups water, chicken, carrots, celery, onion and bouillon cubes. Add in garlic powder, bay leaf and parsley and bring to a boil.
2. While chicken and other ingredients are cooking, mix flour, Crisco, eggs, water and salt together in separate bowl for dumplings.
3. Dust counter area with flour and roll dumplings out to about 1/2-inch thick. Cut in 1- or 2-inch squares and place into pot once chicken is completely cooked and onions are translucent. Continue to cook dumplings for about 5 minutes in pot with other ingredients, until dumplings float to top. Serve in bowl with rosemary sprig for garnish and enjoy!
For Older Audiences: The Irishman
Now, with everyone’s stomachs full, get ready to go out or curl up on the couch to watch one of the most anticipated films of the year, The Irishman, directed by Martin Scorsese. The Irishman is a mafia drama that tells the story of WWII veteran, Labor Union official and hitman Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), who ran with some of the most notorious gangsters to ever hit the streets, including mob boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and Labor Union boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). It seems that Frank Sheeran may know more than he’s been letting on for quite some time, including Jimmy Hoffa’s mysterious disappearance.
This film is rated R for persuasive language and violence, and with a running time of three hours and 29 minutes, get ready to nestle in for a while to catch this mobster drama. The Irishman also stars Ray Romano, Anna Paquin, Harvey Keitel, Jesse Plemons and Bobby Cannavale. It hits theaters Nov. 1 and will be available on Netflix Nov. 27.
Family-Friendly Option: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
If your family is filled with younger children that shouldn’t be watching our Netflix pick for the month, we suggest making plans to head to a theater near you to catch another much-anticipated film, with a kinder message and another fabulous performance by the two-time Academy Award-winner, Tom Hanks.
Based on the real-life story of Fred Rogers, this film captures the essence of what Fred brought to our world, through the eyes of magazine writer and cynic Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), as he too learns to embrace Mr. Rogers' views on empathy, kindness and acceptance, as a way of life.
This film is not rated and has a running time of one hour and 48 minutes. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood also stars Christine Lahti and Chris Cooper, and it hits in theatres Nov. 22.
If you would like to have your restaurant featured in Chesterfield Lifestyle magazine's "Dinner + a Movie = Date Night," please contact Kathleen Kaiser at 618.444.3802 or at Kathleen@kcmgprmedia.com.
