My favorite chicken and dumplings

6 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1Whole chicken
3Carrots, cut up
1Yellow onion
4Stalks of celery, chopped
2Bay leaves
1teaspoonThyme
2teaspoonsSage
Pepper
Pinch of salt
5quartsWater
3cupsStrained stock
2Carrots, chopped
2Celery ribs, chopped
1Small yellow onion, chopped
½teaspoonSage
cupFlour
3teaspoonsBaking powder
1teaspoonSalt
3tablespoonsCrisco
2tablespoonsChopped parsley or
1tablespoonDill weed
cupMilk

Directions

TO MAKE STOCK

FOR CHICKEN SOUP BASE

FOR DUMPLINGS

Simmer all stock ingredients in water for about 45 minutes. Remove chicken from pot and cool until able to handle. Skin and bone chicken and cut or tear into small pieces. Strain stock reserving 3 cups or so. Add chicken and ingredients list for soup. Bring to a simmer while you are preparing the dumplings.

Dumplings can either be made with Bisquick or you make them with the ingredients listed above. Mix dry ingredients and cut in Crisco, using a pastry blender or two knives. Add parsley or dill and stir milk in with a wooden fork. Do not overmix. Drop by large spoonfuls on top of the simmering soup. Simmer 5 minutes with the lid off, then cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

This is adapted from a recipe from Jeff Smith, The Frugal Gourmet, and is just heavenly.

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini