Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

Instructions

1. 01

   Clean out the inside of the chicken, removing the heart, liver and giblets. Add the whole chicken into a large stock or soup pot.

2. 02

   Add the celery ribs and leaves, carrots, onion, bay leaves, poultry seasoning, butter, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add enough water to cover the chicken.

3. 03

   Over high heat bring the chicken to a boil, reduce heat, cover (leave a 1-2 inch opening for the steam to escape) and simmer on low for 1 hour or until the chicken is cooked through.

4. 04

   Remove the chicken to a serving plate to cool. Strain the broth into a mesh strainer and discard the vegetables and any small bones.

5. 05

   Add 5 cups broth back to the pot, cream of chicken soup and butter. Using a wire whisk mix until the soup is blended.

6. 06

   When the chicken is cool enough, pull all the meat off the bone and add chicken back to the pot with the broth. Discard the chicken bones and prepare the dumplings.

7. 07

   To prepare dumplings: In a medium size bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix to combine.

8. 08

   Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender.Stir in the water or broth and blend until the dough forms into a soft ball.

9. 09

   On a floured surface using a rolling pin, roll out the dumpling dough to 1/4 inch thickness.Using a pizza cutter, cut the dumplings into 2-3 inch squares.

10. 10

    Add the dumplings to a bowl of flour and lightly toss.

11. 11

    Bring the broth to a boil and add the dumplings one at a time (shaking off the additional flour before adding).

12. 12

    Reduce heat to low. Continue until all the dumplings are coated and added to the broth.Simmer the dumplings for about 20 minutes, pushing them down with a wooden spoon into the broth every 10 minutes or until they no longer float.

13. 13

    Continue cooking until the dumplings are done and the mixture thickens to the desired consistency. Cool slightly and ladle into bowls.