Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The Best Chicken and Dumplings

Tonight, I was in the grocery store picking up food to make another meal on my list of things to cook.  As I was picking up items from my list, my wife called me.  She has been sick for a few days.  She informed me that she wanted some chicken and dumplings.  Since this was on my list of things to cook, I decided to make what was requested of me.  I used some techniques that I've picked up over the last few months since starting this blog, to try to make a better flavor.  I made this in my dutch oven that my wonderful wife got me for my birthday.  This is what I created:

Chicken and Dumplings
1 large broiler-fryer chicken , cut up
2 celery ribs , sliced
4 carrots , peeled and sliced
1 medium onion , diced  
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
salt
pepper
garlic powder 
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
water
Dumplings
2/3 cup milk
2 cups Bisquick Baking Mix

  • Cut up the whole chicken.  Learn how here.  Pat chicken dry with paper towel.  Season pieces with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Brown chicken in batches.  Learn how here.  Remove all chicken pieces from dutch oven and set aside.  Deglaze the bottom with white wine and chicken broth.
  • Add chicken, celery, carrots, onion, parsley, chicken bouillon to dutch oven.  Add enough water until chicken is covered. 
  • Bring to a boil; reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until chicken is done.
  • Remove the chicken from dutch oven.  Strain liquid into another large pan.  DO NOT DISCARD the vegetables that you strained.  Let stock cool in refrigerator until fat rises to the top.  Skim as much fat as you can and discard.  Remove chicken meat from bones and set aside.
  • After fat is skimmed, return stock to dutch oven and bring to a boil.
  • While stock is heating, mix the 2 cups Bisquick and 2/3 cup milk. 
  • Drop spoonfuls of dumpling mix into boiling stock and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Carefully add chicken and vegetables back to stock.
  • Lower heat, cover, and cook for another 10 minutes.
  • Serve and enjoy!
I've never really been a big fan of Chicken and Dumplings.  Now I am.  My wife has declared this to be her favorite thing that I have cooked.  The smells that filled my apartment while this was cooking made our mouths water.  The flavors were incredible and well worth the time and effort put into this dish.
  

3 comments:

  1. I have been going down with cold for the last couple days. I guess I will be sending my Hubs to the store :) I need to make this! Buzzed!

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  2. I had a hankering this past week for chicken & dumplings — Southern style. It sure hit the spot. Yours look like they'd cure whatever ails you! Delicious!

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  3. Those certainly look like the best dumplings ever. This is the perfect meal for the cold temperatures that are starting to take over.

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