Lucky Cooking: Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

There is just something so "scruptaliscious" about a big bowl of warm, home-cooked chicken & dumplings! This is one of the first recipes I tried when my Pinterest obsession began and I entered a whole new world of crock pot recipes! Since then I have added a few things, subtracted a few steps, and made it my own. Hope you enjoy this wonderful southern comfort food as much as we do!

Ingredients:

3-4 Large Chicken Breast (frozen is ok!)

1 Large (32 oz) can of cream of chicken

1 16 oz can chicken broth or chicken stock

1 Large can of cooking biscuits

1 small onion (diced)

     (optional ingredients)

1 can of whole kernel corn
2-3 carrots (I slice with a vegetable peeler)

Prep Time: 5-10 Minutes

Total Cooking Time: 4.5 hours

Cooking Directions:
Place chicken (still frozen), cream of chicken, chicken broth, diced onion, corn (with juices from can), and carrot slicings in crock pot. 

Make sure all ingredients are covered by liquid. You can add some water or more chicken broth/stock if necessary.

Cook On High 4 hours or Low for 6

After chicken is finished cooking, we shred chicken before adding dumplings.

Take biscuits from can and quarter each biscuit before adding to pot. Make sure each dumpling is coated by "chicken sauce" in pot. 

Cover crock pot again and let sit for 20 minutes until dumplings are cooked thoroughly.

Serve and enjoy!

(Pictured above with a side of fried cornbread)

New Year...New Beginnings!

I can honestly say I was ready to say goodbye to 2014. I'm sure anyone who sees this blog can tell from my lack of updates that it was hard to get out of the depressive "funk" that settled on my spirit for latter part of last year. I can say that at the stroke of midnight this New Year's Eve, I kissed my husband and then kissed 2014 goodbye. 

I love my family. I am blessed daily by my children and my husband. I have a roof over my head, a nice car parked in the driveway, and there is more than enough food in my pantry. I have been blessed this year that my full time job was to be a literal HOMEMAKER. And most importantly, I serve an amazing Savior. I would hate for anyone who reads this post to think that I am ungrateful for all that I have, I only want to keep it real that I have really hated what we had to endure/go through last year. 

In less than a year Hunter and I have lost a total of three beloved grandparents, Papa Rowell died last Christmas, my MommaLo died in September, and Nana Rowell died on Thanksgiving. The loss of a loved one makes you "grow up" really quickly. And then to loose three so beloved, it has definitely taken its toll. My Aunt said it best last year when she said "Hey God, in case you forgot...my name is not Job."  I have had to remind my self that death is a part of life. It is not a favored part, by we must all experience the loss of loved ones; and one day even the death of ourselves. 

But where there is one ending, there is always a new beginning. 

I have always been fascinated by the meaning behind certain numbers. Growing up in the church, you hear a lot about the meaning of numbers like 3 and 7 which are associated with perfection / completion. Six is the number of man and human weakness, the evils of Satan and the manifestation of sin. A number that often gets overlooked is 8. "The number 8 in the Bible represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation, and man's true 'born again' event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life." (cite ) 

Anyone new to this blog is probably like, "What does the number 8 have anything to do with 2015?" Well, this blog is the Rowell Lucky Seven blog, if you are not sure what that is all about then read our July 7th post. We are going into our 8th year together, and after the amazing perfection/ completion that went into that anniversary and renewal, we have since faced many trials, tribulations, and heartaches. The loss of our grandparents were the biggest of all of those things, but there were other heartaches and losses that are family has endured that we had to take and give to God as well. And as always, God has been faithful. In at least as much as to remind me daily that at the end of those trials is always a new beginning. God is the author and finisher of our faith. He is there at the beginning and the end. Even though we lost our grandparents to death, I have a great assurance that all three welcomed a new beginning into eternal life.

I remember thinking last January how excited I was and looking forward to everything 2014 had in store. I was a MOM on a mission! I was staying at home with my babies, the house and chores would stay spotless, with a home cooked meal on the table every night. And that excitement and those ambitions stayed close for a good while. However, Year Seven brought us some curve balls. But the quote on top of this blog is "Life's not perfect, but it can be blessed. And I feel pretty {Lucky} at the the hand I've been dealt."

Last year was not perfect, not by a long shot. But It's over. It's completed. Now there's a new beginning on the horizon. I am looking forward to the new beginnings 2015 has to offer. As our household heads toward that 8th year, I hope to stay steadfast in the knowledge that when God completes / finishes / perfects a good work, that he is faithful to allow a new birth and a new beginning.

Happy New Year from us crazy, {Lucky} Rowells to all of you....and here's to New Beginnings!

Till Next Time, 
Katrina

P.S. Here is a great site for Biblical Meaning of Numbers.

Happy 1st Birthday Miss Evy G!

Our Little Miss Evy (Evelynn Grace) turned O-N-E on December 2nd! There is always something so special about that first birthday. It a celebration of all of those many "first" that were experienced for your child during that year. From first crawl, first walk, first run, first smile, first giggle, first tooth....the list goes on and on! We had a wonderful celebration for our little one. Family and Friends gathered at our humble abode and had one Hoot of a time. Here are a few snapshots of our fun day. Enjoy!

Miss Evelynn Grace Turns One!

Party Theme: 

Owls (Because Evy is like a night owl, still wakes up twice a night!)

Food: 

White Chicken Chili, chips & dip, "Bird seed" (chex mix plus marshmallows), Twigs (pretzel sticks), worms (gummy worms) and some sweet "tweets" (cupcakes and cake).

Our Little Memory Tree had paper "feathers", owl ornaments, and pics of Evy from every month of her first year.

Evy's Birthday Onezie came out great courtesy of iron-on decals from Hobby Lobby! 

Till Next Time!
Katrina