Chicken Stew with Dumplings

Recipe by Elizabeth Durance

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour 35 Minutes Total Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

My mother usually didn't care for dumplings. But she raved about this stew...dumplings and all. It's a down-home delicious meal that I make often for my family.

Ingredients:

2.5 pounds chicken thighs or legs
5 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 pound new potatoes, quartered
3 carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 celery ribs, sliced
1 medium onion, cut into eighths
1 (10 ounce) package frozen peas
DUMPLINGS:
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

Directions:

Place chicken and water in a 5-qt. Dutch oven. Cover and cook over medium heat for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until chicken is tender. Skim fat. Remove chicken from broth; allow to cool. Debone chicken and cut into chunks; return to broth. Add next nine ingredients. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Meanwhile, combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk and parsley. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls into simmering stew. Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the dumplings are tender.