Chicken and dumplings

This is a dish my grandma made for me all the time growing up. Its a quick dish to make and it makes the whole house smell so welcoming and homey.

1 1/2 lb chicken breast, diced
2 tbs butter or good olive oil
1 good sized or 2 med sized russet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 med onion, chopped
1 celery rib 2 if small, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1 tbs poultry seasoning or what i use is a sprinkle of thyme, rosemary, and savory
2 tbs flour
1 quart chicken broth, if i dont have my own homemade stock, i like to use condensed stock and 4 cups water.
Fresh parsley
1 cup frozen peas

For the dumplings
2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 cups milk

This is an easy dish to make with just 1 pot! Minimal dishes, woohoo!

In a large pot, like one you would use to make spaghetti in, heat oil or butter over med-high heat. Add bay leaf and all vegies but the frozen peas, cook for 5 mins stirring frequently or things will start to stick. Season with salt and pepper. Add flour to pan and stir to cover pan/veggies, you will start to get a thick layer on the bottom of the pan, but its ok because next you will be adding the broth, once you add it everything sticking to the bottom should start to come right up with a light scrape. Bring to a boil and add chicken. Boil for 10 mins, chicken should be done and no longer pink inside.

In a bowl add the dry ingredients for the dumplings, mix together and add milk, mix together well. I like to mix the dough with my hands to get a good mix on it. You can also add some parsley in the dumplings to add an extra kick if you want.

Drop the dumplings in small table spoon fulls into the boiling pot, stir gently to cover, put lid on pot and cover tightly, reduce to a med-low heat and steam dumplings for 10 mins. Remove lid and stir to thicken sauce. Stir in peas and remove from heat. Stir in a good hand full of parsley leaves just before serving.

After talking with my boyfriend today, i think the next time i make this i might add some diced stewed tomatoes to give it that extra acid kick.