I made Chicken ’n Dumplings recently because I like to do them once a year, and we’re getting into spring now, and dumpling season will soon be over. (Dumpling season is a made-up season in my head, but dumplings in the heat just don’t seem right.) Anyhow, it was all very pleasant. I was listening to some new music as I cooked because I raided my friend’s computer and added all sorts of stuff willy nilly to my iPod. I got Norah Jones (good cooking music!), Chet Atkins (turns out I like Chet Atkins!) and Michael Jackson (good to run to!)

Anyhow, I was feeling all satisfied watching my dumplings puff up and then turned away for five minutes, and when I returned, my dumplings were gone. Dissipated! I’m not too sure what happened…. I assume the rollicking boil of the stew was more than the dumplings could take?

This incident turned my pleasant day into a bit of downer. Because who wants chicken ’n dumplings without the dumplings? It’s just not the same. And now I have all this dumpling-less stew left over that already bores me when I’ve only eaten one bowl-ful. I also am left with a bunch of dishes in the sink, which don’t seem worth my while when I didn’t even get any dumplings out of the deal. Sigh.