It's starting to get to be perfect chicken N Dumpling weather. Here's how my Mama taught me to make them:

Stew a fresh chicken in an 8 quart pot with plenty Lawry's seasoning salt, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Bring it to a boil and then put the lid on and cut the heat back. The chicken should be done in about an hour.

Pull the chicken out and put it in a bowl to cool.

Pour your broth from the chicken into a bowl to cool. When the broth cools, the grease will float to the top. Separate the grease with a ladel. Don't worry if you leave some grease, it will actually help the flavor and the dumplings will soak it up. Matter of fact, I always leave some fat in there.

Return the broth to your pot and bring the heat up.

Here's the easy part: For dumplings I use cheap store brand canned biscuits and about 6 fajita sized flour tortillas. Cut the biscuits in quarters and the tortillas in quarters. Add your biscuits and flour tortillas one at a time and stir occasionally to keep them from sticking.

At this point I add more seasonings and let the dumplings get happy.

When your chicken is cool enough, start ripping that rascal apart and adding your chicken to the pot with the dumplings. I've heard of people keeping their chicken and dumplings separate and to me this is just stupid. The chicken and dumplings need to be in the same pot.

Put the lid back on and leave it on low. It's really ready at that point but if you simmer it another half hour, it just gets better.

I will add, that the leftovers are awesome because all the spices have had a chance to infiltrate the dumplings. So always make enough for leftovers.

Chicken and dumplings go well with a fresh vegetable like green beans but you don't need anything for this world-class home style comfort food.

PS: ONce you get everything in the pot, don't stir it too much. You will turn it into a big blob. Once everything is in there, leave it alone.

I will try this, sounds good.

I also use the canned biscuits for my dumplings. Never tried tortillias. Weebs your the man!

Tortillas are good, even by themselves without the bisquits. Just don't stir them around too much either way.

Also, it will thicken up on it's own. Don't add flour or anything. If anything, it will thicken too much and you might need to add more broth.

You'll love it.

I have tried to go quicker on the chicken by buying a canned chicken or just using parts of chicken. While this will work, the stewed fresh chicken is the best way to go.

Weebs, you got me hungry. As soon as we get a decent cold front I'm going to try this out.

It really doesn't have to be that cold...Anytime is a good time.

True dat!

Chicken Dumpling Cook-Off!!!

Wager?

we serve this every thursday nite at my families cafe

where is that?

I use the biscuits and tortillas but I take chicken breast and cook them in the bottom of my big pot with a stick of butter and a small amount of oil. Once the chicken is browned a bit on both sides I remove it from the pot chop up into chunks add stock to the pot and bring to boil. Once it boils I throw the chicken back in and start putting the dumplings in the pot. I use one can per person during the cold weather months. Inside of 45 minutes I can be serving.

Where is the picture and where is the cafe ?!?!

Fernandez Cafe
4220 W Vickery Blvd
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 377-2652

Trust me Brandon, it's good stuff!

Just got done making the recipe and it is awesome!!!

Hey, WEEBS:
I agree that the canned biscuit approach is the best I've tried (after several other eliminations). Here's a tip that works well using biscuits. As you say, cut the biscuits into quarters and drop them in the boiling pot one at a time. Don't stir. Let it boil uncovered on low boil for 10 minutes. Then cover on low boil for 10 more minutes. It's ready at that point, unless your broth is too soupy. If it is, just mix a slurry of about 2 tablespoons of flour with a half cup of milk. Pour it in and stir. Let it boil a few more minutes until thickened. It will make you slap yo Mama!!! Enjoy.

I have used the biscuits and toritallas .I had neither the other day so I dropped a bag of large egg noodles in and I think I prefer them.Funny story my daughter had just got married and her husband wanted some dumpling so she dropped the hole buscuit in and now that was some dumplings .She called and said are they suppost to be the size of and orange .I have never let her live it down.There is ways to get even with your kids Ha

I almost did the same thing!!! My grandmother, when she was still around, made some big dumplings but not quite that big!