Grandma's Chicken and Dumplings

Grandma's Chicken and Dumplings

 

What are some of your favorite fall dishes?  For me, its comfort foods.  And no matter how bare my cupboards are, I always seem to have all the ingredients for my grandma's chicken and dumplings.  I remember watching her carefully spoon the dumpling mixture into her thick, steamy broth and watching the dumplings transform into little bits of gooey goodness!  "Don't make them too big," she would say, "you don't want them to be the size of tennis balls!"

AHHHHH FALL !  It brings back so many happy little memories!  Jumping in freshly raked piles of red and yellow leaves, trick or treating and getting pillow cases of candy, and the season's first snow.  Smiles all around!

Grandma's Chicken and Dumplings

Prep Time: 10 minutes / Cook Time:  20 minutes / Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 2 large chicken thighs, cubed
• 2 large russet potatoes, cubed
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 2 large celery stalks, chopped
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 3 tbsp. flour, plus 1 cup
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp. water
• 1 tbsp. dried basil
• 1/4 cup frozen peas
• salt and pepper

Steps:

1. Heat olive oil in large pot on medium heat.  Add carrots, potatoes, celery and chicken.  Season with salt and pepper and cook until the chicken is cooked through and veggies are soft, about 7-10 minutes. 
2. Add 3 tbsp. flour and stir with a wooden spoon, creating a thick roux on the vegetables and chicken.  Add the chicken stock and bay leaves.  Stir until the soup thickens, about 3-5 minutes and reduce to low heat.
3. In a separate large bowl, add the remaining 1 cup of flour.  Whisk in dried basil and season with salt and pepper.  Add the water and continue to whisk until the flour turns to a thick, chunky dough.
4. Spoon the dough into the soup with a tablespoon, making dumplings about the size of a cherry tomato.  Cover the pot and let the dumplings set for about 3 minutes.  With a spoon, turn the dumplings over, add the peas and cover again for another 3 minutes.  Remove bay leaves before serving.