Oh, really recent, then. That's like us being Congregationalists, although 300 years ago, parts of my family who were in North America (of the ones that weren't driven out of Mass. and down to Rhode Island, or that didn't flee to Canada because they were loyalists) were probably Puritan-flavored Congregationalists, too.

Foodies, I have a question...

When I make beef stew, I usually make dumplings, but always use Bisquick. I have no Bisquick, but am going to start my stew.

Does anyone have a good a flour/baking powder sort of recipe for the sort of dumplings you just cook atop the boiling stew?

Cindy, I've never done the stew w/ dumplings thing, but this recipe seems to have gotten really good feedback on Epicurious.

Forecast for this afternoon: drifting snow

Forecast for tonight: blowing snow

Just so we don't get bored, I guess.

We always just used biscuit dough, Cindy. Do you have a biscuit recipe?

SA, does your mom know all these things about J?

Nope, though I told her a less detailed version of that.

We always just used biscuit dough, Cindy. Do you have a biscuit recipe?

Not one that doesn't come from the Bisquick box. t Shameful Yankee I'll gladly take one, though. Dumplings thicken up the stew so nicely, plus you have dumplings!

Cindy, I've never done the stew w/ dumplings thing, but this recipe seems to have gotten really good feedback on Epicurious.

Thanks, Jess. Off to check it out.

Sorry, SA. Visions of dumplings were dancing in my head.

At least your mom doesn't know all that (I mean, seeing as she seems to be pimping him), even if she should have some clue that he's not exactly great news.

Gotta give it to Eliza, for being the first one to make me think "mmm, girls." Kind of a sentimental thing.(Or maybe that was Adriana...I'm not sure. Kind of happened about the same time.) Drea is also exceedingly hot and somewhat inclined to weird fashion.

DH and I are going on a snow-walk. I have no boots, so I'm wearing one layer of socks, a plastic newspaper bag, and another layer of socks. Under sneakers. We'll see how well this works. Ooh! I almost forgot my tiara!

Jessica, I want pictures of you, snow and the tiara! You will be the new Snow Queen. But nicer.

Biscuits

2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup shortning
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup buttermilk

Sift together dry ingredients except for baking soda. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk. Cut in shortning with a pastry blender, knives or your fingers until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pour in buttermilk mixture and stir until just mixed. Turn out on floured board and knead about 10 times. Roll dough 1/2 inch thick and cut with biscuit cutter. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

If you don't have buttermilk, use plain milk, 3 tsp. baking powder and no soda.

For dumplings or drop biscuits, add a little more buttermilk or milk to make a stiff dough.

Easy Biscuits

Add enough heavy cream to self-rising flour to make a stiff dough. Roll out or drop as above. Makes great dumplings for chicken and dumplings.

(I'm not really here. A friend who edits a weekly newspaper guilted me into proofreading because she has several people out. I need to sit down with these large pages and a red pen.)

(edited to make sense)