Comfort Food For the Body/Soul

[chilerelleno]

I've had this damned flu-bug for a week now, it has been one hell of a long week even if I've been sleeping 15+ hours per day... This stuff is wicked.
So bad I had to cancel a three day hunting trip at the height of our Southern Rut.
Anyways, I finally starting to feel back to maybe something on the scale of at least sub-human and my hunger/thirst has returned... Big Time.
I craved some comfort food and so I coached my wife through a batch of Chicken-n-Dumplings, she did all the food handling to keep my bugs to myself.

Now I wish I could've smoked the Chicken, but I'm just not up to it.
But it still came out danged tasty, filling and reviving of the body/soul.

Without further ado...

Chicken-n-Dumplings
2 Chickens halved and seasoned well with Lawrys Seasoned Salt
(Yielded about 8-10C of shredded chicken, I put approx 7-8C into the soup)
(Any chicken will work, even canned)
6 Celery stalks, chopped
1.5 Onions, large, chopped
2 Garlic cloves, chopped
Whatever you like for dumplings, approx 12 servings worth
(I used 3/4 pckg of Mary B Dumplings)
32oz Chicken Broth
4 Cubes of Chicken bullion
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
Water
2t Cornstarch
2T Black Pepper, 1t Celery Seed

In a large stockpot add chicken and bullion cubes, cover with water and boil uncovered for 1.5 hours.
While pot is heating chop veggies and saute in cast iron until onions caramelize, then add to pot with chicken.
Prep your dumplings.
Remove chicken/veggies and set aside to cool, once chicken is cool debone and shred
Add the chicken broth and more water if needed, return to a boil, add dumplings one by one, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 45 minutes.
Add chicken and veggies back, bring to boil and add thickener, reduce heat to simmer again for 15-30 minutes.
Serve.

 

[GaryHibbert]

That sounds and looks delicious!!
Glad to hear your into recovery mode. A few bowls of that will help push you over the top.
But.....I just gotta ask. Are those flat square thingies the dumplings?? Where I grew up we ate lots of turkey and dumplings, but the dumplings were big and puffy. Basically just biscuit mix batter that was spooned into the soup. Had to leave the lid on until they were cooked or they'd get hard and doughy.
I'd certainly say this was worth a POINT.
Gary

 

[forkin pork]

Hey chilerelleno ..... wow you mst be ill, to miss the southern rut, wow!
Anyway, the food looks great, nice and healthy for sure. So eat up, be healthy and get well.
There is always next years rut my friend, but I feel for you.

 

[myownidaho]

Looks great, Chile. Glad to hear you’re on the mend. I’m more in the puffy dumpling camp but they’re all good.

 

[chilerelleno]

That sounds and looks delicious!!
Glad to hear your into recovery mode. A few bowls of that will help push you over the top.
But.....I just gotta ask. Are those flat square thingies the dumplings?? Where I grew up we ate lots of turkey and dumplings, but the dumplings were big and puffy. Basically just biscuit mix batter that was spooned into the soup. Had to leave the lid on until they were cooked or they'd get hard and doughy.
I'd certainly say this was worth a POINT.
Gary

Hey chilerelleno ..... wow you mst be ill, to miss the southern rut, wow!
Anyway, the food looks great, nice and healthy for sure. So eat up, be healthy and get well.
There is always next years rut my friend, but I feel for you.

Looks great, Chile. Glad to hear you’re on the mend. I’m more in the puffy dumpling camp but they’re all good.

Thanks guys,
appreciate the get well wishes and replies on the grub.
I hope few if any of y'all catch it this year, it's nasty.

On the dumplings, they run a wide range of variety that's for sure, depending on family recipes based on region/ethnicity and more.
These flat ones were basically like big thick noodles, but doughier, I tried these on a recommendation... Meh.
See a lot like these down South, but usually much thicker, 1/2".
But I'll use regular canned biscuit dough cut into thirds next time, that or go all out and make spoon dropped from scratch with herbs in them.
My Mom used to make those big puffy Bisquick dumplings, never favored them, I like them dense.

I might get one more chance to hunt this year, our season goes till early Feb.
But yeah, I hated having to cancel out on this one, some really nice bucks have been seen/killed.
Better not to share this with my buddies though.

 

[lovethemeats]

Looks great. Bet it tastes great. Love chicken and dumplings.
Adding in Hungarian paprika while sauteing the onions and adding sour cream at the end makes it a Hungarian chicken poppycosh. Have to have homemade dumplings. Thats a must.
Hope your feeling better after a meal like that. It should help put the life back into you.

 

[tropics]

Chile I know what you mean had a real bad bug at x-mas time.When my hunting partners were alive we use to hunt in Alabama.Get well
Now for the meal yummies for sure I could go for a big bowl of that.Points
Richie

 

[HalfSmoked]

Glad to see you are on the mending side and eating hearty. Looks great and a soul supporting meal that would make anybody fell better.

Warren

 

[SmokinAl]

That's the best medicine there is!
Just ask my Mom!
Al

 

[idahopz]

That looks like a perfect dinner as I'm looking outside my window as the snow is falling

 

[forkin pork]

Better not to share this with my buddies though

I love it......... play the game! :rolleyes: