Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

On the Menu Today~
Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

Now that the weather is turning chilly and
the days are getting shorter and the nights getting longer,
I can't think of a more comforting meal than,
Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings.

Chicken n' Dumplings can be made in so many different ways.
The variations and list of ingredients are endless.
It seems every family has their favorite recipe,
one that has been handed down through the years.

The secret to making the perfect dumplings is..
drum roll please...
using a 2 oz., stainless steel, trigger scoop,
to drop the dumpling dough into the broth mixture.
There are many different brands to chose from,
mine is an Onieda and most are under $10.00.

Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients

• 1 (4 to 5 pound) whole chicken
• 1 (32 oz container) chicken broth
• 5 stalks celery, sliced, divided
• 5 carrots, peeled and sliced, divided
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped, divided
• 5 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, plus more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained
• For Dumplings:
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 heaping tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk 
• minced fresh parsley, for garnish, optional

Cooking Directions

1. Put the chicken into a large soup pot. Add container of chicken broth, cover chicken with water, to at least 1/2-inch above chicken. Add 3 stalks sliced celery, 2 peeled and sliced carrots, 1/2 of chopped yellow onion, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Cover, set over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pan and simmer until the chicken is tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
2. When chicken is tender, transfer to a cutting board, leaving the broth and bay leaves in the pot. Turn heat off. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bone and cut into bite size pieces, set aside. Strain broth to remove any leftover bones and skin, discard.
3. Remove bay leaves from broth. Bring broth back to a boil, add chicken pieces, 2 stalks sliced celery, 3 peeled and sliced carrots and remaining chopped yellow onion. Turn heat to medium and simmer for 45 minutes. Turn broth mixture to a low boil, add cannellini beans and make dumplings.
4. Make dumplings: In a medium bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and dried basil. Stir in milk until combined. Using a 2 oz. stainless steel, trigger scoop (Onieda), drop dough into boiling broth mixture. Reduce heat to medium, simmer and cook covered, about 30 to 45 minutes. (Don't lift the lid).

Chicken, Dumplings, Celery, Onion, Carrots, Stew