Chicken and Dumplings

  • Average
  • Average budget

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken (cut up)
  • 2 celery stalks, cut in large chunks
  • 2 carrots, cut in large chunks
  • 1 onion, halved
  • Bay leaf
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Water to cover chicken

Preparation

Step 1

To prepare the stock, you need a large stockpot and place over medium heat. Add the vegetables and chicken, water and bay leaf; cook until chicken is done. Strain the stock to remove the solids and set aside. Discard vegetables. If making a lot of dumplings and need more stock you can add more chicken broth.

Dumplings:

2 ¼ cups Enriched Bleached Self-Rising Flour, divided
¼ cup Crisco All Vegetable Shortening, chilled
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup milk
½ cup chicken broth

Place 2 cups flour in large bowl. Cut in shortening using pastry blender or 2 knifes just until mixture is the size of peas. Blend in just enough chicken broth until dough leaves sides of bowl.
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 2 to 3 times. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut dough strips ( I use a pizza cutter), about 2 inches x 1 inch. Return broth to boiling. Add dumpling strips to boiling broth.
Cover; reduce heat to low. Simmer 15 minutes or until dumplings are cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent dumplings from sticking. Stir in pepper, milk and cooked chicken. Cook about 5 minutes or until heated through. Add torn chicken back to dumplings and simmer.