So we had what I would like to think was a pretty successful “hockey mom” night on Tuesday.  Tuesday nights are my “hell” night, when I have hockey practice for both kids, with an hour break in between, but I’m also technically supposed to do a workout and also possibly do a short run.  Oh, and feed the kids, help them with and then correct their homework, and then get them in bed at a decent hour!  I can’t complain, though, because prior to November, we had to include a football practice in there, too!

This past Tuesday, I decided to plan the night better.  On our other Tuesday nights, the poor kids weren’t eating until 9pm at night, and we all know that’s really not good for them.  This time, I put a dinner in the crockpot in the morning.  Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings is definitely not a diet recipe, but it’s one of my favorites, not only because it tastes so good, but because it’s so easy!

I rushed home from work and while my husband took Daniel to his early practice, I did my workout quickly and Jamie finished off dinner.  This involved shredding chicken, adding the “dumplings” to the crockpot, and then heating up the biscuits.  He then ate the dinner when it was ready. (That all took about 25 minutes, and he even had to spot me on my last set of bench presses before we left!)   I quickly spooned dinner into two Rubbermaid containers, grabbed the remaining biscuits, and then we high-tailed it to the hockey arena just in time to get Daniel off the ice.  While Jamie got ready for his practice, I took Daniel to the car, where we sat in the backseat and ate our chicken and dumpling dinner (with biscuits) while I corrected his homework and he did his required reading for the night.  By the time that was done, Jamie’s practice was over, and we were all home by 8:45 and…for the first Tuesday in a long time…everyone had already eaten dinner!!

I was quite proud of myself, to be honest. 😉  But I will say that the crockpot is definitely my friend on dual hockey nights.  I wish we didn’t have to eat the car, but it sure beats the kids (and me!) eating at 9 or 9:30 at night.  k

This recipe is really easy, and it could be easier if you’re willing to use canned cream of chicken soup.  I’m not a fan of it, and when I found this recipe, I was hooked!  I totally changed it up to make it a little lighter, but it definitely does the trick when you need to use cream of chicken soup as an ingredient in a recipe.

I got the chicken and dumpling recipe from the Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife, and I am forever grateful for it…it’s soooo good!

Source: Adapted from Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife 

Cream of chicken soup substitute adapted from Buns in My Oven

6 Tablespoons Brummel & Brown, divided

2 Tablespoons Flour

1 c. chicken broth

1 c. fat-free milk

salt and pepper if desired

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast (or 6 skinless chicken thighs)

1/2 a package of Grands biscuits (4 biscuits)

flour

Place 4 tablespoons of the Brummel and Brown in a sauce pot and melt over low heat.  Whisk in 2 tablespoons flour until you have a paste.  Add in the chicken broth and milk and heat over medium-low, whisking until thickened.   This is your cream of chicken soup substitute (the equivalent of two cans).

Place the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, chicken, “soup,” and onion in the crockpot.  You can cook it on high for 5-6 hours according to the original recipe, but since my days are a lot longer, I cook it on low for 9 or 10 hours and it turns out great.  About 30-60 minutes before serving, shred the chicken (doesn’t have to be perfect…Jamie kind of “half” shredded it on Tuesday, leaving pretty big chunks, and I liked it that way!).  Then take the  four biscuits and tear them into small-ish pieces (from 1 to 1 1/2 inches) , dredge each in flour, then toss them into the crockpot and cook on high for 30 minutes.  While it’s cooking, you can make the remaining 4 biscuits to serve on the side (don’t ask me to tell you the points for those, though!).

Serves: 4

Points:  11 per serving (I told you this is not a diet recipe!)  Add in a biscuit and…well, never mind. 😉  I won’t lie, you don’t get a ton for the points (maybe 1.5 to 2 cups worth), but it sure does taste good.  Pair it with a salad and you’ll probably be good.