Ingredients

The following ingredients have 7 Servings
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
  • 1-1/2 cups self-rising flour
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried chives, or 1 tablespoon of fresh snipped chives
  • 3/4 cups milk
  • 1 small hen, whole chicken or a mixture of other chicken parts
  • 1 large stalk of celery, sliced thin
  • 1/2 of a large onion, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped, optional
  • 5-1/2 cups of reserved chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon of chicken base (like Better Than Bouillon), optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon of rosemary, crushed
  • 1/4 teaspoon of dried thyme, crushed
  • 3 tablespoons of bacon fat or butter
  • 3 tablespoons of all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup of milk or half and half
  • 1/2 cup of frozen peas, optional

Instruction

  • Using a pastry blender, cut the shortening into the flour until it is mealy; add chives. Set aside in the refrigerator to chill until needed.
  • In a large soup pot, add the chicken and top with celery, onion, carrots, chicken stock, chicken base, salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme. Stir to mix well. Place over medium high heat and bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook about 30 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink. 
  • Strain the stock into another container if desired, returning the broth back to the pot. Cut up the larger chunks of chicken and cut up, returning them to the broth.
  • In a separate pan, heat the bacon fat over medium high heat until melted. Whisk in the 3 tablespoons of all purpose flour. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture is bubbly and smooth. Remove from the heat.
  • Scoop out 1/2 cup of the broth from the chicken pot and slowly add to the roux - be careful because it will steam up right away and can easily burn you. Immediately turn the burner down to a medium low simmer and return the pot to the burner; add additional broth, 1/2 cup at a time for a total of 2 cups, stirring constantly until the liquid has been fully incorporated. Add 1/2 cup of milk to roux and blend in.
  • Add the peas, if using, and the roux mixture into the hot stock, stirring in well. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to simmer.
  • Retrieve the flour and chive mixture from the fridge, stir in 3/4 cup of milk. Using a cookie scoop, drop scoops of dough into the simmering liquid until all of the dumpling dough has been added. Cover immediately, so that the dumplings begin to steam; simmer on low about 10 minutes before checking.
  • When they are fluffy, insert a toothpick to see if they are done. If not, allow to low simmer until done, without disturbing the dumplings. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Carefully scoop broth and a few dumplings into individual serving bowls.