Thanks Kathleen! So glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you so much for the five stars on flavor and presentation, I really appreciate it. I’m so sorry the dumplings didn’t turn out the way you hoped, that’s so frustrating when the rest of the dish tastes great.

A few things can cause dumplings to taste floury or feel dense, so you didn’t necessarily do anything “wrong.”

• Flour that’s been sitting a long time can definitely affect flavor, so that’s one possibility.
• Mixing the dough by hand is totally fine, but if it was difficult to bring together, the dough may have been a bit too dry, which can make the dumplings tough instead of tender.
• Dumplings also need a very gentle simmer. If the heat is too high, they can cook unevenly or stay doughy inside.

If you ever want to try them again, add a splash more milk to the dough if it feels stiff, and keep the pot at a low simmer once the dumplings go in. That usually solves it.

I’m really glad you enjoyed the rest of the recipe, and I hope you’ll give it another go. I’m here if you have any questions!