Foolproof Chicken And Dumplings Food

PERFECT CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Boil the chicken in the water and bouillon cubes.
• You can use any combination of chicken parts, just be sure to use chicken with the skin on.
• When the chicken is done, remove it from the broth and chop the meat into bite sized pieces.
• Take 1 cup of the broth and add the egg and enough flour to make a stiff dough.
• Roll the dough out on a floured surface and cut into strips about 1x2inches.
• (dough should be about 1/8th of an inch thick).
• Drop the strips into the remaining broth (it should be boiling first).
• Simmer them for 30 minutes.
• Add the chicken pieces during the last 5 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper if needed.

CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the chicken: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity of the chicken and discard. Rinse the chicken under cold water, inside and out. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Season the body and cavity of the chicken generously with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, mash together the butter, lemon juice, and chopped herbs. Rub the herbed butter all over the chicken, as well as under the skin. Put the lemon halves, onion, garlic, and whole herbs inside the chicken cavity, for added flavor. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Place the chicken, breast side up, in a roasting pan fitted with a rack. Roast for 1 hour until the meat is no longer pink. When cool enough to handle, shred the meat, discarding the skin and set aside. Reserve the bones for chicken stock.
• For the stock: Coat a large stockpot with olive oil and place over medium heat. Add the vegetables and saute for 3 minutes. Add the reserved chicken bones, water, and herbs; simmer for 1 hour. Strain the stock to remove the solids and set aside.
• For the dumplings: sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs and milk together; pour the liquid in the dry ingredients and gently fold. Mix just until the dough comes together, the batter should be thick and cake-like.
• For the sauce: In a Dutch oven, melt butter and heat oil over medium heat. Add carrot, celery, garlic, and bay leaves. Saute until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour to make a roux. Continue to stir and cook for 2 minutes to coat the flour and remove the starchy taste. Slowly pour in the chicken stock, 1 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition.
• Let sauce simmer until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 15 minutes. Stir in heavy cream.
• Fold the reserved shredded chicken into the sauce and bring up to a simmer. Using 2 spoons, carefully drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the dumpling batter into the hot mixture. The dumplings should cover the top of the sauce, but should not be touching or crowded. Let the dumplings poach for 10 to 15 minutes until they are firm and puffy. Season with freshly cracked black pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

LIGHT-AS-A-FEATHER DUMPLINGS (FOR SOUP OR STEWS)

Steps:

• In a bowl sift together the flour, salt, black pepper (if using) and baking powder.
• In another bowl mix the egg with melted butter; add to the dry ingredients with enough milk to make a semi-stiff batter (do not over-mix, you might use a little more than 2/3 cup milk).
• Drop by a teaspoon into simmering soup or stew.
• Cook covered for about 18-20 minutes and NO PEEKING for the first 10 minutes.

FOOLPROOF CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Shred rotisserie chicken into bite-sized pieces using 2 forks.
• Melt butter in a stock pot on medium heat and add celery and onion.
• Cook until vegetables are translucent.
• Add water and chicken base and bring to boil.
• Blend in cream of chicken soup, and then add salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and chicken.
• Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Bring to boil and add WHOLE biscuits (do not tear).
• Cover and cook 10 minutes. (Do not remove lid during this cooking time.).
• Reduce heat, remove lid and cut biscuits into bite-sized pieces using a serving spoon.