SOUTHERN CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• House Seasoning is wonderful to spice up any recipe so keep some in your pantry; Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months; Yield 1 1/2 cups.
• To start the chicken: Place the chicken, celery, onion, bay leaves, bouillon, and 1 tsp.
• House Seasoning in a large pot.
• Add 4 quarts of water and in water and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Simmer the chicken until it is tender and the thigh juices run clear, about 40 minutes.
• Remove the chicken from the pot and, when it is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and separate the meat from the bones.
• Return the chicken meat to the pot.
• Keep warm over low heat.
• 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.
• Add the cream of celery soup to the pot with the chicken and simmer gently over medium-low heat.
• Cut the dough into 1-inch pieces.
• Pull a piece in half and drop the halves into the simmering soup.
• Repeat.
• Do not stir the chicken once the dumplings have been added.
• Gently move the pot in a circular motion so the dumplings become submerged and cook evenly.
• Cook until the dumplings float and are no longer doughy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• To serve, ladle chicken, gravy, and dumplings into warm bowls.
• Cook's Note: If the chicken stew is too thin it can be thickened before the dumplings are added.
• Simply mix together 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 1/4 cup of water then whisk this mixture into the stew.