Chicken & Dumplings

We had the best news ever yesterday about Todd's cancer.  The radiation did its job and it has been eradicated.  We celebrated after seeing the specialist by enjoying an egg custard tart a piece in the hospital cafe, and then we came home and I made Todd one of his favourite dinners.  Chicken and Dumplings!

You will need cooked chicken to make these.  I had actually roasted a chicken the day before so that I would have plenty to make this dish, just in case!  You could also poach some chicken breasts, use a rotisserie chicken, whatever works for you! 

My husband is not a hard man to please.  He is a simple man with simple tastes and he was in heaven when I set a bowl of this in front of him.  Literal heaven.  He just loves chicken and dumplings!

I love them too, and not just because they are delicious.  I also love them because they are a really simple supper to make.  You just make a simple chicken stock gravy and drop in the cooked chicken, and then drop buttery dumplings on top, cover and steam.  Easy peasy. 

The hardest part really IS keeping yourself from peeking while the dumplings are cooking.  Trust me when I tell you that is the quickest and easiest way to ruin a good dumpling.  Just throw caution to the wind, pop that lid on and have patience and faith that they will turn out!  

Remember  . . .  If you be looking the dumplings ain't cooking!  Its a total truth.  DON'T look, not even for a second.  Your patience and self control will be rewarded by light and fluffy dumplings . . .  so tasty nestled in a bowl of that delicious chicken stew.  Dig in!  Supper is served! 

*Chicken & Dumplings*

Serves 4

Printable Recipe 

If you have someone special in your life that you want to do something special for, make em this. This is guaranteed to put a smile on literally anyone's face! The recipe can easily be doubled successfully. 

For the Chicken gravy:

4 TBS butter, cut into pieces

70g plain flour (1/2 cup)

830ml warm chicken broth or stock (3 1/2 cups)

salt and black pepper to taste

1 large carrot, peeled and diced (3/4 cup)

3 ribs celery, plus the leaves, chopped (1 1/4 cups) 

For the Dumplings:

140g plain flour (1 cup)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp chopped fresh parsley

1 1/2 TBS cold unsalted butter, cut into bits

80ml whole milk (1/3 cup) 

You will also need:

3 cups cooked chicken, torn into large pieces

2 TBS fresh parsley to garnish 

I use my medium la creuset pan for this.  You will want a dutch oven type of stove top casserole dish with a tight fitting lid.  Add the butter to the pan and melt it over medium low heat.  Once it begins to foam add the celery and the carrot.  Stir to coat and then cover tightly and allow them to sweat over low heat for 5 to 8 minutes.  Stir in the flour and cook for a few minutes to cook out the flour taste.  Slowly whisk in the warm stock, and cook, stirring until the mixture bubbles and thickens.  Let cook on a slow simmer for about 15 minutes at which time the vegetables should have softened nicely.  Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.

While the vegetables are cooking make the dumpling dough.  Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Drop in the butter and cut it in with a pastry blender, or two round bladed knives.  Stir in the parsley and milk to make a nice dropping batter. 

Stir the chicken into the gravy and heat through. Bring it to a quick simmer.  Drop the dumpling dough  onto the top of the simmering stew by dollops.  Cover tightly and Cook for 20 minutes, until the dumplings are well risen and cooked through.  Don't be tempted to lift the lid to look during that time.  Remember "IF you Be Looking . . . It ain't cooking!"   The quickest way to ruin a good dumpling is to look sneak a peek while they are cooking.  Ladle the finished stew into soup plates, sprinkle with parsley and dig in!

I can't think of a better reason to celebrate than the good news we got from the hospital, can you?  We were both well over the moon.  This was the perfect celebratory meal.  Much nicer than anything we could have found in a restaurant and a heck of a lot cheaper!  Bon Appetit!

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