It's that time of year.... school is back in session, the evenings are becoming a little earlier each day, and the need for a quick and filling family dinner arises about five times a week. With as little dishes as possible, please. Enter, Creamy Chicken and Dumplings.

Creamy Chicken and Dumplings is a one pan wonder that is a bit of a cross between a chicken pot pie, and chicken and dumplings soup. It's thick, and creamy with hand cut country veggies and soft, fluffy dumplings dolloped throughout. I am humongous fan of a meal that doesn't call for any sides, or excessive pots and pans to get the job done. This is definitely one of those meals.

how to make chicken and dumplings creamy.

These chicken and dumplings are a little different than most, because these dumplings live in a thick and luscious creamy base, rather than a broth like one. It's all about the sauce with these, and it's the heart and soul of the dish. To make the base or the otherwise broth like part of the dish thick and creamy, dissolve all purpose flour into a bit of water until it's smooth (it should be the thickness of pancake batter) and then whisk that into the broth or stock. It must simmer on low for a few minutes, which is the time that it will begin to thicken. Without the simmer going, it won't thicken, so be sure there's adequate heat once the flour mixture is mixed in.

the perfect drop dumpling

The dumplings that are dropped in are much like a biscuit. Basically, they are a biscuit but they don't have to be rolled out and cut. Just dolloped in, perfectly imperfect.

When it comes to biscuits and dumplings, I am team shortening all the way. Normally, when there is an option for butter, I always lean towards butter because usually butter makes everything better. I think we can all agree on that. However, there are always exceptions to the rules, and I believe that biscuit and dumpling dough is one of them. Using shortening for the biscuit dough rather than butter, makes a way fluffier biscuit. Think KFC biscuits. Super soft and pillow like. Using butter still makes a good biscuit, it just results in a different texture. The texture will be more crumbly and less fluffy.

Make sure to cut the dry ingredients with the shortening first, until it looks like fine crumbles. You can use a fork, a biscuit cutter, or even a few quick pulses in the food processor like I do. (This is a finer crumb than you would want for biscuits on their own, but it's perfect for dumplings that are going to be submerged in sauce.)

how to make buttermilk

When it comes to biscuits or dumplings of any kind, buttermilk is always superior. Not everyone always has buttermilk on hand, but it could not be easier to make. Simply pour a cup of regular milk into a mixing bowl or measuring cup, and add one tablespoon of either white vinegar or lemon juice. Stir it up, and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. It will thicken and form curds and one final whisk will combine everything and poof! Buttermilk.

what vegetables go in chicken and dumplings?

This is the wonderful thing about chicken and dumplings. You can be a little flexible with what you want to put into your chicken and dumpling dish. I always include carrots, peas (fresh or frozen) and onions. If I have celery on hand, that goes in as well.

Sometimes if I have some odds and ends like a small amount of corn or potatoes I will add those in too, but only to use them up. This dish is a great way to use up any lone vegetable or leftover ends.

The herbs are also a flexible addition here, but don't get too wild with them. Thyme, sage, rosemary and bay leaf all add wonderful fragrance and flavor to the dish. Any single variety or combination will really make for a delicious addition.

Note that when using peas, wait until right before dropping in the dumplings to stir in the peas so that they don't overcook.

how to thicken a sauce

There are a variety of ways to thicken a sauce, but for this dish flour works the best. Cornstarch can be used, but it will give a silkier sauce rather than the gravy like consistency that is perfect for these Creamy Chicken and Dumplings. If you opt to go for cornstarch instead of the flour route, just use half the amount of cornstarch that you would if using flour.

Don't just add the flour right into the simmering liquid; it will get very clumpy and won't break up. You must whisk it separately with another liquid until smooth and lump-free, and then whisk that flour mixture in.

I don't normally opt for flour as a thickener, or as a way to make things creamy. This dish is an exception in that way as well. The no-canned, condensed soup recipe for Chicken Poppy Seed Casserole for example, calls for corn starch. And I often use heavy cream to "cream up" my sauces, like in this irresistibly rich and creamy Acorn Squash and Sausage Pasta. I might have a slight obsession with heavy cream. But the old flour and water thickener just works best for this particular recipe.

what to serve with chicken and dumplings