Chicken and Dumplings for the Body AND Soul
Aug. 24, 2009 5:06 pm
Updated: Aug. 29, 2009 10:07 pm
It started with a simple tickle to the nose. Nothing to worry about since I was neck deep in a closet on a Friday afternoon. There is so much junk to sort after kids are grown and one wants to clear space or simplymake money in a yard sale. Sneezing from dust all morning I paid no attention to mere tickles.
Then as trash bags were filled and neat piles organized into 'saleable' or 'dumpable' and the air cleared I realized that the tickle now had friends visiting--- in the form of a runny nose, headache, body ache and full blown congestion with a cough.
<sigh>
A cold.
Ugh!
Why did it have to show up as I was going into the weekend?
After a bath to get rid of the cobwebs and dust from my hair I was sure of it. Yep, I officially did not feel so hot, and it was exactly one week after my daughter caught her cold and sent me running in horror away from her attempts at hugs. (Nope. Not being coldhearted. It's just that my immune system is totally lame since having chemo a few years back, and I amso tired of catching every little thing that comes along. You can bet the H1N1 is something I keep my ears open about.)
It did not take me long to figure out that Sunday Dinner was in jeopardy. My plan of a full Guamanian BBQ with red rice and Estufao would have to be shelved for another weekend. What could I fix that all would enjoy and would not have me moaningin cold misery on the floor of my kitchen.
AHA!!!!!
The lightbulb that went off over my head lit up the kitchen much better than the sad little overhead fixture.
Chicken and Dumplings!!!
What could be better?
It took no time at all before the kitchen smelled heavenly with a roasting hen in the oven along with a few veggies and a large sprig of rosemary in the bird's recesses.
While the bird was cooling I went ahead and took care of the pot of veggies and mixing up the dumplings. There were also the usual curious who had to come in to lift a lid and open the oven door to see what's cookin'.
Usually the cooking process is something I like to do while talking and laughing or enlisting help of family members, but this time I was much more silent since my voice had gone to a resonating baritone that allowed me to do a perfect immitation of Barry White that confused the hubby and rendered me somewhat cranky...okay, so I was very cranky.
However, the first spoonful of smooth and creamy chicken goodness chased the crankybug away....Could it do the same for thecold? I sure hoped it would!
Chicken and Dumplings
(as Mom and Grandma would make)
1 roasted chicken (or you can boil it and use the broth. I am cutting out some fats at present),
3 ribs celery, chopped
4-5 carrots chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
2 chicken soup base teaspoons full
1 teaspoon each of white pepper, garlic powder and salt
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of celery or cream of chicken soup
Dumplings:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
Ice water-approx. 1 cup
Bone the chicken and place in at least 4 quarts of water or use chicken stock or broth if you want a more flavorful pot. Add all the other ingredients and cook until tender. This did not take long since I had preroasted the veggies.
To prepare the dumplings:
Mix the flour with the salt and mound together in a mixing bowl. Beginning at the center of the mound, drizzle a small amount of ice water over the flour. Using your fingers, and moving from the center to the sides of the bowl, gradually incorporate about 3/4 cup of ice water. Knead the dough and form it into ball.
Dust a good amount of flour onto a clean work surface. Roll out the dough (it will be firm), working from center to 1/8-inch thick. Let the dough relax for several minutes.
Reduce heat on pot so that it is on a very low simmer.
Drop the dumplings in small 1-2 inch pieces and submerge them. Do NOT stir. Soup is ready when they float and no longer are doughy in texture(approx. 4 minutes).
Since I woke up this morning without a nose running and not coughing my fool head off, I would view the soup a success.
Enjoy!
Puaha
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