So this week's recipe has some sentimental value to it. Let me tell you a story. Once apon a time in the early 90's a feisty lady by the name of Ann came up to MI from Florida to spread cheer and make her ultra famous chicken and dumplings. These weren't average chicken and dumplings they were homemade and delish!
Sadly, later in the 90's Miss Ann passed away and so did the magic of her dumplings. So who was this lady? She was my wonderful great aunt and tonight we are paying homage to this sassy Italian lady by making a mock version of her recipe. We can't make the exact same but I like to think we would of made her smile a tad from our version.
Chicken & Dumplings
(Serves A LOT of people lol probably 6 to 8?)
Ingredients
(chicken part of recipe)
1 whole chicken
16 cups of water
1/2 bag baby carrots
4 celery stalks
salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
1 tablespoon of chicken seasoning
2 cups of chicken stock
(dumplings part of recipe)
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons oil
Directions:
First up how to make up the chicken part:
*In a large pot place 16 cups of water, celery, and carrots.
*Rinse off the whole chicken and clean out the inside. Place the chicken in the pot with the water, celery, and carrots.
*Boil until chicken is done ( 1 1/2 to 2 hours). Turn off burner, take chicken out and place it on a plate. Let chicken cool. Take a slotted spoon and remove carrots and celery and put on a plate.
*Once chicken has cooled remove all skin and fat. Cut up your chicken to bite size pieces. Return your bite size chicken pieces to the pot of broth and add two cups of chicken stock to the pot.
*Take the carrots and celery and with a potato masher (yes, forreal lol) and mash them. Once mashed add it to the pot with stock and chicken.
*Bring to a boil and add the salt, pepper, chicken seasoning, and garlic powder. While this is cooking start making your dumplings.
Second up is how to make the dumplings:
*In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, chopped parsley, and salt.
*In a separate bowl combine milk and oil.
*Add the wet mixture slowly to the dry mixture. Stir the mixture until it forms a dough ball.
*Flour the surface of your table, and roll out your dough. Take a pizza cutter and cut dough into little squares.
*Slowly drop in dumpling bites into your chicken stock mixture. Keep stirring as you slowly add each dumpling.
*Cook 10 to 15 minutes then serve and enjoy!
So this was a nice reminder of a grand memory from my childhood. Of course getting this done wasn't easy. Aunt Jane and I had to beg ma to make it for us lol. In the end I think my great aunt would approve. :].
Tid Bits:
*Please do not use chicken broth. You need to use stock for more flavor. So bottom line kiddies if it says broth, stay away but if it says stock, you're in business.
*If you are not into making the homemade dumplings get a can of biscuits. Roll them out and cut them into squares the same way you would the homemade dough.
Ma's Spot:
Chicken and dumplings is a wonderful comfort food. When I was little I would sit in a chair and watch every moment of my mom making chicken and dumplings. Waiting for her to give me a taste and her saying to me "When you grow up you can make your family chicken and dumplings". Here I am today doing what my mom said. I've always thought this recipe was hard to make but this is a pretty simple way to make it. It has the same familiar taste like my moms but with less of the work. So if you are looking for a wonderful family dinner on a cool fall night this is what you have to make. So create the warm memories with your family and enjoy.
*SNACK CORNER:*
It's time for snack corner! Where we take new snacks in the grocery store and break it down for you. We tell you which are hot and which are not. Let's get to this week's picks:
Dinah: We have Keebler Mint Creme Middles up on the menu this week. Normally I am not a cookie kind of gal. I mean sure I like a good chewy cookie every once in a while (oatmeal raisin is my poison) but it's one of those things I have to be in the mood for. These cookies? I could honestly eat at any time. The mint creme is pretty stellar and the cookie itself is chocolaty and soft. All in all a pretty stellar cookie.
Ma: Well what can you say when you have chocolate and mint? Delicious, creamy, and go to the store now and get some! PS. In case I didn't mention it, I loved these. :D.
That's it kiddies. I need to go place some ice on my face and get my allergy shot tomorrow. We'll be back next week with my pick and it has to do with yummy food (of course) and something out of left field. Don't be scared, I promise it's gonna be good. Have a great week guys!
Spoons & Spatula's
~Dinah & Ma
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