Chicken and Dumplings... And oil? What can I do now, what to do better in the future?

I made them for the first time, from directions my mom gave me (hers' are delicious)... She told me to boil the chicken and keep the broth.... And it seems a little oily... I'm thinking maybe I didn't add enough dough or something, I dunno. And I forgot salt and pepper too which is okay to add after. I put celery and carrots in it too, and you can't taste either. I don't want it to go to waste, so I need to know what to do and what I can do to prevent it next time. Thanks a bunch.