Chicken and Dumplings

You need a BIG POT with a tight fitting LID!

1 3 to 4 pound chicken
4Q water
2t salt
2t pepper
1 lb carrots peeled and sliced into 2" pieces
1 bunch of celery-  including the leaves cut into 2' pieces
1 medium onion chopped
1/2c fresh parsley, chopped

Combine chicken, water, salt and pepper and cook for one hour.  Add carrots, celery and onion and cook for 45 minutes.  Lift chicken out, remove meat from bones and discard bones and skin.  Put the meat back in the both and add parsley.  Salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a Boil and then add dumplings.

2c flour
4t baking powder
2t salt
2/3 c fresh parsley (or oregano or thyme)
1c milk
4T melted butter

Mix all ingredients together quickly, just until moist.

here is where it gets tricky-  remember that dumplings grow in the pot-  so dont make them too big.  I have done them two ways-  by the teaspoon and i have rolled the dough out and cut them.  the cut ones seem to cook more evenly for me.

drop your dumpling into the boils pot and then cover with a lid for about 15 to 17 minutes...DONT PEEK