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I can't even explain how heavenly this chicken & dumpling recipe is going to make your house smell, so you'll just have to trust. Don't worry about making the dumplings if you've never made them before. The drop and cook method makes it relatively forgiving if they aren't perfect.

Things You Will Need:

• 1 (3 3/4-lb.) whole chicken

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided

• 3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided

• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules

• 3 cups self-rising flour

• 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

• 1/3 cup shortening

• 2 teaspoons bacon drippings

• 1 cup milk

• Garnish: chopped fresh parsley

How To Prepare:

1. For starters, you'll need to cook the chicken. Grab a dutch oven and set on the stove top. This is where you will cook most of the meal. Place chicken in dutch over and cover with water. Add garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper to water. Place the lid on the dutch over and cook over medium-low heat and summer for about one hour.
2. Next, you'll want to remove the chicken from the broth and let it rest for about half an hour before breaking it down. You'll want to remove the skin and de-bone. Then shred the meat. Set aside momentarily.
3. Now we will focus back on the broth. Skim the layer of fat off of the top of the broth and then put the shredded chicken back into the Dutch oven. Add a little more salt and pepper to broth and let it return to a simmer.
4. Next, we will get started on making the dumplings. You'll want to combine the flour and poultry seasoning in a bowl. Mix in the bacon drippings and shortening as your dough is forming into a crumbly consistency. Now you'll stir in the milk and turn dough out on a well-floured countertop. Roll it out into 1/8-inch thickness. You'll cut 1-inch pieces of the dough to make your dumplings.
5. Drop a few pieces of dough at a time, into the simmering broth. Cover and let simmer gently for 25 minutes. Be mindful and stir gently throughout the cooking time.

Note: Garnish with parsley and serve on a rainy day. This is the perfect meal to enjoy when its cold and wet outside. This dish does take almost two and a half hours to make, so it is definitely an ideal dish to prepare when it's rainy outside and you're stuck inside.

Article Source: My Recipes