New South Chicken and Dumplings

Name: New South Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients: 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 cup whole milk; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon canola oil; 3 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch rounds; 1 sweet onion, chopped; 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes; 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 6 cups chicken stock or low-fat, reduced-sodium chicken broth; 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch cubes; 2 sprigs fresh thyme; 10 ounces fresh baby spinach