Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Fall Comfort Food at It's Finest :-)


Mrs. H.'s Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings
4 servings

4 tablespoons butter, divided
2 tablespoons oil, divided
1/2 cup flour
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 1/4 cups half and half, divided
1 cup flour
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt



Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet.  Add 1 tablespoon oil.  Coat chicken breasts in flour and then brown each piece on both sides in skillet; set aside.  In a large sauce pan melt the other 2 tablespoons of butter.  Add the other tablespoon of oil.  Saute onion, carrots, celery and garlic until tender.  Add broth, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper to saucepan.  Bring to a boil, add chicken and cook until chicken is done.  Remove chicken and shred with two forks; set aside.  Stir cornstarch into a bit of water and then add to saucepan.  Cook and stir for one minute until thickened.  Add 1/2 cup half and half to saucepan and stir.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add 3/4 cup half and half and mix until dough forms.  Drop dough by spoonfuls into simmering chicken broth and let cook for several minutes.  Add chicken back to pan, spoon up hearty bowlfuls and enjoy! 



 "The way to be truly happy is to fill up every passing hour 
with something useful. 
Let us not wait for some nobler and higher work to do. . . 
It is the humble work that makes life noble."


-The Old Farmer's Almanac, 1873