The only things I can think of that I didn't differently: used
homemade veg broth I had in the freezer (I'm vegetarian though my husband isn't and he thought the soup was great) used mixed dried mushrooms (you can get a large amount from costco for not too much - I keep them on hand for all my dried mushroom needs) did a healthy glug of sherry (more than the recipe) into the mushrooms when they were done sauteeing added spinach at the end to the soup For the dumplings, the only thing I did that was different than what many would do is use an egg from one of my hens - other than that I made them just as other people did but mine were full of flavor and could be eaten plain.
greatest hits of lunch — wilted kale / sausage / other
veg combo, turkey / chicken thighs w roasted veggies (throw carrots, green beans, baby potatoes, beets, squash, w / e tossed in oil in the oven),
homemade hot / sour soup w broccoli noodles (i made a big
broth out of a leftover turkey carcass), salmon over salad