Chicken and Dumpling Soup

– This Chicken and Dumpling Soup recipe is made with creamy broth, succulent chicken, sweet carrots and light fluffy dumplings. It will really satisfy your longing for a good home cooked meal.

INGREDIENTS
– 2 tablespoons butter

– 1/2 large onion chopped

– 3 stalks celery chopped

– 2 large carrots sliced in 1/4 inch rounds

– 2 cloves garlic finely minced

– 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley

– 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

– 1 1/2 tablespoon flour

– 6 cups chicken stock

– 1 bay leaf

– Salt and pepper to taste

– 2 cups cooked chicken cut in small cubes

– 1 cup frozen peas

– 1 cup flour

– 2 teaspoons baking powder

– 1 teaspoon sugar

– 1/2 teaspoon salt

– 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

– 1/2 cup milk (2% or whole)

INSTRUCTIONS
– Melt butter over medium heat in dutch oven or stockpot. Add onion, celery and carrots and cook until fragrant; approximately 4-5 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add garlic, parsley and poultry seasoning; cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. Sprinkle in 1 1/2 tablespoon flour; cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. Stir in chicken stock and bay leaf; simmer for 25 minutes.

– Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken and frozen peas and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

– In medium bowl mix 1 cup flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in butter with pastry cutter. When crumbly add milk and stir just until combined. Drop by small spoonfuls into simmering soup. Cover and cook for 15 minutes without removing the lid.

NOTES:

– Use a dutch oven or heavy stockpot with tight fitting or heavy lid.

– The bay leaf should be removed from the soup prior to eating as they have sharp edges and could pose a chocking hazard. I find it easier to remove it before making the dumplings.

– As tempting as it may be do not lift the lid while the dumplings are cooking as the air in the pot must remain hot and steamy to cook the dumplings properly.

– Ready cooked rotisserie chickens are available in almost every local grocery store, warehouse store and even Walmart and Target.

– While cooking the dumplings keep the heat down to a low simmer so as not to scorch the soup.

– If the dumplings did not puff up quite enough quickly cover the pot and cook an additional 1-2 minutes.