Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings
Lesson 7 - Learn to Cook for Real Housewives
Chicken and Dumplings - Southern Style
Every good housewife should have at least one chicken soup recipe. Join me as I teach my friends, the real housewives how to cook. This week I will show the girls how to make a perfect chicken stock and homemade dumplings.
Dumplings are very easy to make and you only need a few staples from the kitchen to make them. If times are thin this meal can be made for a family of 10 for under 10 dollars.
Chicken soup isn't just for the soul - it is good for the body too! It has been proven that it helps soothe cold symptoms as well as the flu. It contains carrots which are full of Vitamin A and great for retinal health. Chicken broth has also been found to aid in weigh loss programs. High in protein and lower in fat - this is a perfect diet menu item.
Soup is one of the many things you could survive on for a long time for just a few bucks so listen up ladies. Alex and Simon are on the verge of a split along with Adrienne and Paul...mmm mm m. Sonja is losing the condo! Ladies, you had better learn your way around a kitchen - things are getting real now, huh?
Skim that fat!
Housewives, you should have been practicing your knife cutting skills and techniques. This week you will need to use them in the kitchen. First we will be making chicken stock. This soup base can be used for a million things. I make a pot and divide my stock and chicken into two or three portions for quick and easy future meals. The stock can be frozen or even made into cubes with an ice cube tray for those recipes that just call for a few tablespoons or a quarter cup of soup broth.
Chicken Stock
- 3 carrots,
- 3 stalks of celery
- 1 large onion
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves of garlic
- green onions
- fresh or dry thyme
- fresh or dry parsley
- fryer chicken
*add about 4 quarts of water to your stock pot.
To make a soup stock, you use the bones of a type of meat to flavor the broth. This is the only difference between and "broth" or "stock." I use the entire chicken and conserve as much of it as possible.
Toss the chicken in the pot, rough dice all the vegetables in large pieces and throw them in as well. Bring the contents of the pot to a boil. Turn the temperature to low and let it simmer on the stove for four to six hours.
Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside to cool. After it rests most of the meat will fall off of the bone. Shred the chicken and you can portion that and save some for later also. I often use the left over chicken for chicken salad.
Some cooks prefer to strain the vegetables from the broth through cheesecloth. I like to simply skim most of them out with a skimmer.
The liquid you have left is chicken stock. It can be used to make soups, stews, gravies or a base for many recipes. Use it all immediately or portion it and freeze some for later.
Chicken Stock & Shredded Chicken
After you strain the vegetables from the broth you can toss them into the compost bin. At this point I divide the broth into two parts and use half for the chicken and dumplings and the other half for another busy day. You should end up with about 4 quarts of chicken stock or two portions of 2 quarts of liquid.
For chicken and dumplings - add about 6 cups of water to your stock.
I like to add fresh diced carrots into the broth. Sometimes I toss in kale or frozen peas near the end - you can be creative and add any extra flavors that compliment chicken. If you like you can also add some chicken boulion sesoning for a richer chicken flavor, but it is optional. I did not add any to mine this time - the chicken was very flavorful. Sometimes it doesn't come out as well and I can only guess it depends on factors that are out of my control. Possibly the difference in what the chicken was fed or the amount of fat, age of the chicken could have a huge impact on the flavor that is drawn from it.
Dumplings
- 3 1/2 cups of cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 5 tablespoons of shortening
- 1 cup of milk
Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Cut the shortening into the mix. I use a whisk and mix the flour until it becomes small crumby looking. Once the crumbly mix is pretty uniform in size with no large lumps you can begin to add your milk. Add about a quarter cup of milk at one time gradually adding more until the dough begins to form a ball. (You may not need quite a cup of milk).
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. I use a cutting mat. Roll the dough into any thickness you desire. I prefer flat noodles that are about 1/4 inch thick. Make sure you flour both sides of the dough.
Slice the dough into uniform squares or rectangles. My kids like to use cookie cutters and make shapes with the dough. Let the freshly cut noodles sit out to dry for about 30 minutes.
Drop the noodles into the simmering pot of broth. Let them cook for about 5 or 10 minutes. Frozen peas or another vegetable of your choice can be added to the soup at this time as well. Place a tight fitting lid on the pot and let the dumplings simmer for 10 to fifteen minutes.
You should begin to notice your broth is turning to a gravy like liquid. This is because the flour from the dumplings is doing it's magic. Now you have delicious chicken and dumplings - southern style!
Add salt and pepper to taste.
I would serve this dish wish some hot biscuits or buttery dinner rolls.
Now you can see, how one 5 dollar chicken can stretch the menu without stretching the budget. Keep practicing girls you are starting to shape up like real housewives!
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." ~ William James
Comments
Mmmmmmm.......my absolute favorite!!! Jamie
I have to say this looks much better and tastier than any dumplings I've ever had. Years ago I decided I didn't like dumplings but after seeing how you make them I may have to change my mind.
I loved everything about this hub. The recipe reminded me of my grandmother's and I wish I had some of this for my lunch break!! Thanks very much for posting this hub and recipe. Very nice.
Not a good idea to read recipes before lunch. This sounds absolutely delish. The pictures are perfect. I will add this to my arsenal of recipes.
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Hey Susan - My mom used to make the drop biscuit dumplings - I hated them! Sorry Mom:) lol But they would be a nasty gooey on the outside and dry inside - EW! I prefer the "Sweet Sue" type with a nice flat noodle and gravy sauce! Yum!
Thanks so much!
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Hi ytsenoh - thank you so much!
This is one of my favorite dishes to make when I have time. If I already have the stock made in the freezer that it's a cinch to just make a few dumplings. My grandma used to have the best recipes for stuff like this but she never wrote anything down. She had them all in her head. lol Too bad for me!
Have a great rest of your day at work today:)
I could just shove my face into that picture you have here...I know this is delicious without even tasting it.
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Hi Jamie - this is one of my favorites too! And for sure is my 12 year old's favorite - doesn't matter if it's scortching hot outside - she wants some hot dumplings inside! LOL
Thanks so much - maybe you could get someone to make them for you huh?
Where is my previous comment? Hello!!!! sigh...now I'll do it again....great recipe...I would eat this every day if I could.
OMG OMG - this looks FABULOUS!! NOM NOM NOM NOM Can you hear me chowing down? Haha. I'm bookmarking this. I love making veggie stock but now I want to make chicken stock and those dumplings! MMMMM. I have a feeling I just found a new favorite soup.
One question: what is "fryer" chicken? I don't cook much with meat, so I admit I haven't heard of that.
This is on my to-make list of recipes this week.
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Hey Bill thank you! The new comment answering system is sort of hard on iPad:) lol. It downs tlet me fill stuff in exactly where I want.
I do live this stuff and it will stick to the ribs for sure! Lol
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Oh it's not that true Carol...and it's never good to go shopping hungry either! Lol. Thanks so much!
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Yeah Bev will probably make you the real thing - I bet she's a great cook!
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Hey Cyndi - that is a great thing about having commentary! So many times when I got stuck on a tripe I wished I could ask that book a question:)
Fryer chicken is just a regular chicken. Our stores sell, fryers, roasters, hens, ducks, turkeys - you name it! A roaster chicken is usually fatter and sometimes they include a little pop up timer - you don't want all that. Just a plain raw funky chicken:) lol
Sounds good. Cake flour that surprises me. Looks really good. Voted Up.
Love chicken and dumplings!
This is what I need. Something simple and delicious. Thank yous so much. I am going to try this.
Oh no you didn't! There is no food on Earth I would rather eat than chicken n dumplings! I have been known to drive for 50 miles to eat this at a roadside diner in the hill country. They make it real good. But I think this recipe may be even tastier, girl! Ima gonna try it fo sho.
This looks so absolutlely yummy. I make my chicken soup the easy no hassle way. Frozen veggies (but I guess I should be practicing my knife skills!) and then I use the paste to make the broth. Throw in some canned chicken and I got homemade chicken soup that really isn't much of homemade. We shall call it mock. Then I make dumplings. I just drop balls of it in and let it go from there. That is the lazy version. However, yours looks much more appetizing!! And I love how you made the dumplings. I am going to try that because I bet the kids would love star shaped dumplings or Christmas trees during the holidays. And I will make a batch so it lasts all week long! :) Great hub!
My mouth is watering. I want it to be fall and I want to eat this now!! LOL Great job :) and I loved the pictures.
Kelly,
I must confess that I do not have the knife skills down pat yet, but I am trying hard! :)
Awesome recipe you have here! The food looks so good! I need to start cooking more, right Jon? We both need to! LOL Thanks for sharing Kelly!
am a vegetarian but your final pix on this hub, gave me the yum and excess secretion of saliva...lol
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Hey Moonlake - thank you! This is a really great dish - it is one that takes time but in the winter - what the heck? It smells great, makes a ton of food and tastes so good - I make it when someone's mad at me. It always puts them in a forgiving mood! lol
Hey Fiddleman - We have that in common then because I do love Chicken and Dumplings - but only this recipe. I do not like those nasty drop buscuits! lol Thanks so much!
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That's what I am talking about Carly - me too - good old comfort food! Thanks let me know if you like it!
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Lela - Oh I didn't know you have a thing for the chicken and dumplings - me too! I do love this recipe and gosh I have been making it so long I didn't reaize how much I don't think about it. It was a challenge to try to do this one step by step so it took forever! I think it's pretty darn foolproof now - Stacy pointed out I had a bit of a disconnect between instructions so I fixed that I hope:)
This recipe is Sydney's very favorite! She gets so excited when I tell her I will make it. Kind of a pain, I have to admit but it's so worth it. I just take my time and plan to clean all day on the days I make this. Smells so good and tastes so great! Yummm - so I just had it last night:) LOL
Whatever the Monday hub is - you can bet it is what we had for dinner on Sunday:) LOL
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Hey Stacy - yeah this is an interactive dish:) The kids love helping make the dough. We end up with the craziest stuff in our soups - kinda like alphabet soup or pictionary in your stew: - lol Keeps them busy!
I have done that lazy version but I just take the frozen stock from the time before out of the freezer and start adding. I like to just go to the grocery store get some meat and vegetables and surprise myself with whatever I already have on hand. I am a lazy shopper and do not like to mess around in there. Ugh..so this recipe is cool because I always have the main stuff that goes in and add water! Presto!
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Hi Julie - thanks so much! I do love this one - but yeah - it's a chore to make. It is an all day in the kitchen type meal - but on the other hand - I am always so happy when it's all done. I will have the base for a few meals to come and you know having kids - you never know when you have those unexpected busy evenings. You can always make something from chicken stock! lol
I have never had this style of chicken and dumplings before but I though of making it after seeing a chef doing it on Top Chef...lol...Thanks for the recipe, looks absolutely tasty.
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Hi Cardisa! How are you? I've been meaning to come by your place to see ya:) schools starting here - it's been nuts!
This really is super good, cheap, goes a long way and sticks to the ribs:) good ole southern cookin'! The soups good for you but not so sure about these dumplings! Lol. It probably ends up pretty fattening too:)
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Ha! Yeah I bet if some girls came over and you and Jon were really making home made dumplings? LOL. Well that would just ne HOT! Lmao. You should try it...,pretend like you've been doing it for years:) lol
Thanks so much!
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Hi Ruchira - oh yeah you are so sweet, you're only reading this because you're about the kindest individual I've ever known:) LOL. I adore you for it too!
This looks delicious! I'll have to add it to my list of recipes. Of course, I will be using a substitute for the milk (lactose intolerant) ;)
Yum, I love chicken and dumplings. Thanks for a fantastic recipe!
Looks scrumptious. Now there's a word you don't see everyday. But this recipe was worth it. :-)
RealHousewife, I am so glad you are writing articles like this because nowadays it is difficult to find a cookbook that teaches how to cook from scratch. This is a good thing you are doing and you are inspiring me to get back into cooking again rather than eating so many prepared frozen food dinners. Thanks.
You know it girl!!! Southern style is the real deal when it comes to chicken and dumplings no doubt! Thanks for sharing. In His Love, Faith Reaper
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Hey Twixmixy - thank you so much! Oh lactose intolerant - that can be tricky for a cook to work around huh? I bet you could use chicken broth as a substitute! I'll have to see if I can find more info that could be an interesting research project!
Good luck and let me know how it works out!
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Hey rebeccamelaey - thank you! If you try it - I've no doubt you'll love it! My kids are not shy about criticism but this one is a favorite - tried and true many times over:)
This is so cool to know how to make my own dumplings. Chicken and dumplings are one of my favorite soups. I had no idea what ingredients made the dumpling. If I wasn't so lazy right now, I'd make them for dinner. LOL-I will definitely make these soon. Thanks for the great recipe :-)
How yummy-licious looking, Kelly. Thanks for your trouble. Who doesn't love chicken and dumplings? Well, maybe the chicken ......
Wooooooo, you know it girl!!! There is nothing to compare with southern style chicken and dumplings. Amen on this one. Thanks for the recipe. Great hub and photos too. All looks delicious, and no doubt is delicious! In His Love, Faith Reaper
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Hey I love that word...and since I love food I say it a lot! Lol. Thanks so much!
Wow, you ARE a real housewife. This looks delish!!!!! I love chicken and dumplings. I need to start making and freezing my own broth, too. Excellent hub!
Kelly - My recipe is fairly similar only I use the frozen already made strip dumplings without really suffering any decline in flavor or succulence.
Great food!
TFP
RHW, Lactose Intolerance is actually the main reason I am so passionate about cooking. Or at least it was the propellant behind my beginnings of cooking. I decided I wanted to eat healthy and know what was in my food! I really don't give lactose intolerance much thought anymore. It is just a part of my life and I love coming up with recipes that are healthy and unique because I cannot default onto something like cheese, cream or milk. I think those things can become crutches in the cooking world (however, sometimes they are vital to a recipe).
I'll have to look up some good alternatives for this recipe as well, but chicken broth may work just fine!
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Hi lauramaryscott - Thank you so much!
I have been thinking more and more that people have missed out on the basics of cooking. Why we use what we use - active ingredients - so much of what we consume seems to come from boxes. My familiy NEVER cooked that way...it was a huge affair for every holiday. Dinner meant, a three course meal that my mother cooked and lots of it was from scratch. I think it is so smart for people - men and women alike - to understand more basic stuff because it could literally save your life. Think about people who get lost in the woods and starve to death when there is edible food all around them. Stuff like that occurs to me and I wonder how many people remember how to make stone soup? Remember when ladies could open the pantry and grab a couple scraps and make a meal? I do! lol
Thanks so much again:)
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Hey Faith Reaper - well this is soul food for sure! hahaha Thank you so much - this is a really great dish! I so appreciate the great comment!
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Hi Minnetonka! I really do appreciate knowing how to make a lot of stuff from a few things - or whatever I can find on hand sometimes. There are days when I just do not want to cook - so I can usually improvise something fast - I still have some left over shredded chicken - so I am planning to throw some wraps together with it tonight. Now that will take me about 5 minutes - and it will be a wrap:) lol
Thank you!
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Hey drbj - haha - yeah I actually felt a little weird preparing it in front of Pedro:) LOL I was trying to talk real sweet to him and tell him not to worry - he isn't next or anything! lol
Thanks so much - me? I love the chicken and dumpings:)
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Hey Faith - thank you again:) I was slow in getting to comments - my kids are back to school today - so UP to this point - things were kinda nuts around here:) lol
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Hey FP - How are ya!! Kids - just got back to school today so I expect to be hanging out a little more:) I wil have to hop over and see what you have been doing!
I have a pack of frozen noodles in the freezer - I have been wanting to try them so decided I would drop them into the broth I saved from this batch maybe next week. I have never tried them before and I have never seen them in the store before! So I may update this hub and add a review if they turn out nicely. I can't even remember the brand name but it's new around these parts.
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Hi Twixmixy - I am glad to hear that you have encorporated that into a healthy way of cooking! I know people that are super smart do learn to manage and be thrilled with the results they get in the kitchen. I have known people for instance that have diabetes and learn to work great wonders without real sugar! Now that is talent to me - I do try now to be more alert about possibly using an alternative - like honey or raw sugar. It's new for me for sure though!
RealHousewife-Your a beautiful and great wife, mom, cook, and have a sense of humor. Your the whole package my friend and that's the wrap from me. LOL
I am sorry, I thought my first post did not take, as it just went away, so I reposted a comment. In His Love, Faith Reaper
I am not a housewife but I still want to make all of these great recipes that you share with us :) I vote useful, vote up, and smiling at you Kelley :)
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Aw thanks Minnetonka - you are so nice! And you were in the same room as John Mayer, huh? LOL Gosh I love that guy - I still think about you and your sis and how much fun that must have been!! ha!
Thank you so much!
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Oh it's all good Faith - I try not to jam up the feed answering comments:) lol It annoys people - so I try to only do a few at a time and girl I get so far behind! lol
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Hey Christy - thanks so much! I think being a housewife - is way underrated! I hear so many ladies that say it's boring or they hate it - I say they are doing it wrong! LOL
Kelly,
Yummy, yummy, yummy! I love dumplings and have been operating under the philosophy that if I were to make them (for roommates and such) I would pilfer the recipe off a box of Bisquick...now I will be going with yours!
Update: I did a meal for the roomies the other day "Chuck Wagon Bean Bake" Not really a good "dating recipe" because of the explosive properties of the beans but it was tasty! (toot, toot...)
Thomas
You are making me what to get the flu or something so that I can test the powers of chicken and dumplings. Yum!
Great recipe! This is one of my all time favorite comfort foods. I make this but I cheat and use Annie's dumplings. It isn't the same as homemade. Excellent hub with photos that are a little too appetizing. What time is dinner? LOL.
I've never had chicken and dumplings made with cake flour. Interesting twist. I will have to try it. Voted up.
OKk I'm not a housewife - but I'm bookmarking this sucker! Great hub. Thanks!
Worth a try !
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Hahaha LMAO Thomas....that sounds pretty good and now you can call Jaime "sparky!" hahaha. Keep working younger doing wonderful my man!
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Oh don't go getting sick...you can have these sweet dumplings any time - even when your fine! Haha! Thanks so much!
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Hey Tammy - I haven't tried frozen noodles yet...I would use them too if I was trying to hurry or just didn't feel like making them. I think it's great to know how though. That way if your stuck like chuck you can grab a few things from the pantry and make a meal:).
Thanks and let me know if you try this - it's super easy!
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Hey your cousins - yeah the cake four is what my gram told me to use. I'm not sure why and she passed away many years ago:). I have never tried to make them without it either so I'm not sure what the diff would be? I ought to try it just to see!
Thanks and good luck making them!
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Hi Peter Allison - well you don't even have to be a girl to make these:) lol. And if I knew a guy that could - I'd like him just for that!
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Hi Dr. Pooja - hey it's just what the doctor ordered! Thanks so much:)
I love dumplings my grandmother made them every winter with chicken soup. Yours look so good.
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Hi Trish and thanks! This is how my gram made them too! Good old fashioned dumplings:).
Mmmm..Love chicken and dumplings. I have my own recipe., but I am going to try yours..it looks more like my grandmother made..Yum!
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Hi faythef! Thank you so much - also for the reminder I think I am going to make these this week as well!
O, yes. My Momma used to make chicken 'n dumplings when I was growing up. I have not ever really had any since then that was very good. This looks so much like hers. I have to give this a try. Sending Angels to you :) ps
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Hey PS...these are the good old time dumplings...just like gram used to make!!! You'll love them...and tis the season:) thank you!
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