Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

photo by Dave Hester on Flickr

As I bound from each task during the day, I'm finding it more and more difficult to get dinner on the table. Here's how a conversation transpired between me and my calendar as of late:

Calendar: Haw-haw! Look how full of red dots I am!
Me: Yeah, gotcha. But I'm on it.
Calendar: Time to do away with your insistence to have family sitting around the table for dinner.
Me: Uh, is that threat?
Calendar: Not a threat, per say. Just sayin'...there are such things as drive-thrus. Get with the times.
Me: Never! As a kid, even my three wild brothers insisted we have dinner together every day. And they're down-right nutty.
Calendar: Just don't see it as a possibility, working Mom of three. Only so many hours in a day.
Me: I refuse to give up!

So for all you busy parents out there, this is a great dinner on the quick. Turned out awesome. Five thumbs up all around.

photo by makelifedelicious

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

5 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
3 cans low fat cream of chicken soup
1 can low fat cream of celery soup (or chicken. I just like the celery)
2 tbsp. butter
1 red onion, minced
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
2 teaspoons thyme
palmful of chopped fresh dill
some chopped carrots, as much as you like
some frozen peas, as much as you like
throw in some chopped celery too, if you feel the urge
salt and pepper to taste
chicken broth; about 1-2 cups
1 tube of refrigerator biscuits

Place all ingredients in slow cooker, except biscuits. Simmer on low for 6-8 hours. In the last couple hours of cooking (it calls for 30 minutes but I find you need longer), rip pieces of dough into small chunks and throw them on top of the chicken mixture. Simmer until no longer doughy.

Now go get those kids off to their dojos / hockey rinks / music classes / youth groups!