No Chicken and Dumpling Stoup

I was given a vegeatarian cook book for my birthday and loved the photos. I couldn't wait to try the recipes. This past week I have been some what disapointed though. It kind of goes back to the whole sharing of recipes thing. I really think alot of recipes turn out the way they do because of the person making them. How you fold something in or how long you mix, or how you measure and more. So its always hard to get a recipe from someone and expcet it to be the same thing. This book seems to prove that,so far 3 out of 4 have been a bust. About half way through each one, I knew something was not working out?!!!! And today was no different. I set out to make a "cold weather casserole" and it just felt wrong. So I tweeked and improvised and the result was just lovely. SO as the snow begins to fall again in our neck of the woods enjoy this hearty comforty type dish.

You'll need
smart balance
1 leek, sliced
1 zuke, sliced
1 fennel buld, halved and sliced
2 potatoes, diced
2 good size carrots, diced
1 can of butter beans
veggie stock & boullion
Bay leaf & marjorum, S & P
In a heavy skillet melt the butter, add all the fresh veggies, cook them down on low heat for about 15 minutes. The potato should still be firm but the rest of the veg should be cooked down. Add about 2 T of flour and stir well. Add the liquid from the beans and about 2.5 cups of veggies stock, and spices cover and cook for about 10-15 more minutes. You want to check and stir this because you don't want it to mush but you want all the goodies of the veggies to come out and richen up. Transfer to a soup pot and fill about half way with water add 2 crumbled veggie boullion cubes. This is my favorite brand, they have a sea salt and herb one that just have the right stuff in it to make a yummy base. Let that cook down covered on low. You should get s texture thicker than soup but not a stew, STOUP!
Now for the dumplings... They are so yummy and easy.
Mix 2 cups of flour with about 2/3 cup milk. Mix this until's it is a sticky doughy like substance. Drop by small teaspoons into boilling soup and let boil for 10 minutes, then cover about lower temp cook for 10 more min.
Perfect to welcome home a cold hubby or brighten a neighbors day or bless a new family or heal a sick friend.....