How To Make Chicken And Dumplings

Learn how to make chicken and dumplings like mom used to make. This is often a special dish in families because it's easy to make, it's a definite comfort food—it really sticks to your ribs—and it fills your belly. It's also very inexpensive to make as a dinner entree and feeds a large family, especially if  you can get your chicken on sale at the grocery store or meat market. Very few of us don't like to dip and dumplings are one of the first foods our moms made that beg for dipping in sauce, gravy or flavored soup, like chicken. Just thinking about it can make your whole mouth water.

To make chicken and dumplings, you'll need:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 12 oz. chicken broth
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1 potato, cubed and peeled
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 chopped celery rib
• A dash of salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 3 tbsp. milk
• A pinch of salt

1. Place the first seven ingredients into a saucepan. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes, until the chicken is done and the vegetables are tender.
2. Make the dumplings. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt into bowl and gradually add milk until the mixture is moistened.
3. Drop by teaspoonfuls into the simmering chicken mixture. Cover and simmer for another 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a dumpling comes out clean.

Part of the cooking process for the dumplings is the steam from the chicken mixture, so try not to open the pot until the time is up to ensure proper cooking and perfect texture.