Chicken and Dumplings

There is nothing like a bowl of chicken and dumplings. And that's just how I like mine. Chicken. Dumplings. Please don't try to sneak in veggies. It's called Chicken and Dumplings for a reason. I found this recipe years ago, and it just a good ole bowl of comfort food.

Ingredients:

Whole Chicken

2 32 oz containers of chicken stock

2 tsp salt 

Pepper to taste

For the dumplings: 

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 T shortening

3/4 c buttermilk

Directions:

Cook chicken in a large pot over medium heat with stock, salt, and pepper until falling off the bone. Usually this takes about an hour to an hour and a half depending on how high you have your heat. I usually do it slower and longer because I don't want to have to keep a close eye. Once the chicken is done, remove the chicken from pot and skim any solid pieces from the stock. Pick off chicken from bones and chop into small pieces. Set aside. To make the dumplings, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and shortening. Crumble shortening into flour mixture, making mixture slightly moist. Pour in buttermilk and mix with hands until mixed. You can roll it out and cut it if you want, I prefer drop dumplings. You do you. At this point, turn the broth back on and allow to come to boil. I always add more pepper at this point. Once boiling, pinch of dumplings if doing drop method and drop into boiling stock. Once all dumpling dough has been dropped, stir chicken back into pot using wooden spoon. Allow to simmer for about 10 min and serve. 

*This dish is a little more time consuming, but I usually do it in parts. 

*I cook the chicken in the broth after lunch most of the time, and after it is done I will pick out all the bones, chop the chicken, and stick the chopped chicken in the fridge. I cover the broth and leave it on the stove. Usually, it doesn't even really cool all the way down before I'm ready to heat it back up and drop in the dumplings. 

*This dish only dirties one pot! Anytime that can happen that is a win in my book!