veggie & dumpling stew - you do NOT want to miss this!!!!

OMG this was AMAZING!!!!  Who knew veggies tasted so good???!!!!  You absolutely have to try this recipe.  Takes ~40minutes to make and you can probably substitute or add different veggies to your liking.
1 tbsp. butter
3 carrots, peeled
2 medium zucchini, sliced
1 russet potato, cut into chunks
1 sweet potato, peeled, cut into chunks
1 bell pepper, cubed (I used an orange one)
1/4 onion, chopped
handful fresh parsley chopped
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
3 cups vegetable broth
1/2 small can tomato paste
1 can white kidney beans (or any kind of beans you like)

dumplings:
1 1/2 cups flour (I used 1/2 wheat and 1/2 white)
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
3 tbsp. butter

First, let's start the stew.  In a large pan (I did not use a big enough one) melt 2tbsp. butter and add the carrots, zucchini, potatoes, onion, and bell pepper and cook for ~10min.

Add salt and pepper while cooking and stir every couple of minutes.  Then, cover with vegetable broth (I got Trader Joe's organic vegetable broth..do not use low sodium kind!) and add the parsley, bay leaf, beans, and tomato paste.  Stir to incorporate tomato paste.  Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for ~10 minutes. 

During that time, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt and chop in the butter.  Work with your fingers until the mixture is coarse.  Then, stir in the milk and parsley.  Using 2 spoons, scoop balls onto the top of the stew. 

Let simmer for 10 minutes uncovered.

Then, carefully put a lid on the pot (mine overflowed so I had to remove some of the liquid temporarily) and simmer for another 10 minutes.  Then, uncover and voila you have a delicious, healthy meal!!!  So GOOD!

Spoon some stew into a bowl and top with a couple of the dumplings.

steamy photo

Mmmm...bet your jealous of our lunch for tomorrow..haha.  Let me know if you try this and if you love it as much as we do!