Down Home Chicken And Dumplings

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 1/2 lbs whole chickens
• 2 quarts water
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon sage, chopped
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons shortening
• 3/4 cup unsalted buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped

Recipe

• 1 place chicken in large pot and add water.
• 2 bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat and let simmer for one hour.
• 3 remove chicken from pot and let cool slightly.
• 4 remove meat from bones, cutting meat into bite-sized pieces: set aside.
• 5 skim any excess foam and fat from the top of chicken stock.
• 6 bring stock back to a boil and add pepper, garlic, onion powder, sprigs of thyme, and sage leaves.
• 7 combine dry ingredients and then cut in shortening until mixture resembles course meal.
• 8 add buttermilk, stirring with fork until dry ingredients are moistened.
• 9 turn out dough well-floured surface and knead lightly four or five times.
• 10 flatten dough to half inch thickness.
• 11 pinch off dough in 1 1/2 inch pieces and drop into boiling stock.
• 12 reduce heat to medium-low and cook 8-10 minutes or to desired consistency.
• 13 stir in chicken and enjoy.