Chicken and Dumplings (TX) Recipe

Chicken:
1 (3 to 4-pound) chicken
2 stalks celery, unchopped
1 medium onion, quartered
Salt and pepper, to taste

Dumplings:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
3/4 cup milk
Reserved chicken broth

In a large pot, simmer the chicken with the celery, onion, salt, and pepper in water deep enough to cover the chicken until tender enough to be gently pulled off the bone (about 2 hours). Remove the chicken from the broth, debone it, tear into pieces, and set aside. Reserve the broth.
To prepare the dumplings, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium-size mixing bowl. Cut in the shortening, combining with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the milk, and roll into a large ball. On a well- floured surface, roll the dough into paper-thin pastry. Slice into 1 1/2-inch squares. Heat the chicken broth in a large saucepan. Drop the dough slices into the broth, and cook on low for about 15 minutes, until done. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Add the chicken pieces to broth, and heat through. Season to taste. Serve in soup bowls.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Tips From Our Test Kitchen:
If you prefer a thicker gravy, stir 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour into 1/2 cup of milk until smooth. After the dumplings are done, add the flour mixture to the hot broth and stir. For a more intense chicken flavor, add two chicken bouillon cubes to the broth. Serve with finely chopped fresh parsley on top.