The Best Chicken and Dumplings

OwlMonkey's Note:

This is the perfect comfort food for those chilly winter nights, and with the long simmer time it will nicely warm up your home. I adapted this recipe through a combination of many sources and a little ingenuity since I was dissatisfied with each of my individual attempts. None of them tasted quite right. The original sources were a cookbook called "the firehouse cookbook", which offered the addition of evaporated milk as a healthier (and still delicious) substitution for heavy cream. And the cookbook which added the necessary addition of vermouth is called "The Best Recipe". It's a constantly changing evolving recipe so feel free to offer your additions or suggestions. I'd love to hear them.

• Total Time: 2 hrs
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 3 -4 chicken breasts
• 1 large onion , cut into chunks
• 3 celery ribs , cut into pieces
• 4 medium carrots , peeled and cut
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
• 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 (16 ounce) package biscuits
• 4 cups water (reserved from chicken)
• 2 tablespoons vermouth
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Cooking the chicken - Add chicken, bay leaves and 3/4 teaspoon of salt to a large cooking pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a low boil and reduce heat to medium/low. Simmer partially covered until chicken is cooked through. Remove from water and set aside, cut the chicken into pieces when it's cool enough to handle. Strain the water from the pot reserving 4 cups of broth, keep the bay leaves. Add the 4 cups of reserved broth, bay leaves and the extra 4 cups of broth (or bouillon)back to your large cooking pot.
2. Cooking the vegetables - While the chicken is cooking, bring 1/2 inch water to simmer in a skillet fitted with a steamer basket. Add celery, carrots and boiling onions; cover and steam until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove and set aside.
3. Making the gravy - Simmer your chicken broth. Add butter, thyme and vermouth to the pot. Next your going to make a roux that will thicken your gravy - put your flour into a bowl and add just enough warm water to make a paste. Then using a wire whisk, slowly add the roux to the pot. Next add your evaporated milk and continue to simmer. If the gravy doesn't thicken slightly by the time your dumplings are finished, add another roux with the measurements halved.
4. Preparing the biscuits - While your gravy is simmering, you can start making your biscuits. Place a little bit of flour on your cutting board and rolling pin. Open the package and knead the dough together with your hands. Roll it out into a sheet as best you can, the dough will be very resistant. Cut into thin strips about a half an inch thick and 3 inches long. Don’t make them to thick or they won’t cook properly.
5. Putting it all together - Once finished with your dumplings stir your chicken, vegetables (including thawed peas) and herbs into your gravy. Next your going to place your dumplings on top of the water. Let them float undisturbed for a few minutes on top before you stir them inches Then you can add your next layer. When you’ve added all of your ingredients, cover the pot and let cook for at least 20 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. You can let it sit on the stove longer if you need to keep it warm for awhile.