Chicken & Dumplings (Or Easy Chicken Stew - Minus the Dumpli

This recipe is comfort food all the way! Perfect on a cold day or when you just need something to warm you up. For the optional Dumplings, please use Christine Bettiga's Dumplings

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 4 -5  chicken thighs or 1  small stewing chicken
• 2  cups water
• 6  cups  chicken stock
• 1  medium onion, diced
• 2  stalks celery, diced
• 1⁄4 cup green peas
• 1⁄4 cup carrot, diced
• 1 (10 1/2ounce) can  cream of chicken soup
• 1 (10 1/2ounce) can  cream of mushroom soup
• 3  garlic cloves, crushed
• 1  teaspoon garlic granules (or powder)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

Directions

1. Boil thighs (or small whole stewing chicken)in water & chicken stock until done (juice runs clear when you pierce them).
2. Remove chicken pieces and set aside to cool.
3. Add onion, celery, peas and carrots and return to the boil.
4. Skin, debone and cut up chicken into bite sized pieces.
5. Add chicken and mushroom soups, garlic, spices and chicken pieces to soup, whisk until thoroughly mixed and return to a boil.
6. Turn down and simmer for approx 20 minutes.
7. Add dumplings from Recipe #30965 (optional) and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
8. Serve immediately.