Miss Mary's Famous Chicken With Pastry

This is an excellent dish that I have enjoyed many times at Miss Mary Bobo's in Lynchburg, TN.

• Ready In: 1 hr 50 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• Chicken

• 1 (2 1/2-3 lb)  chicken
• 1  large onion
• 1  celery rib
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 cup water
•  salt and pepper, to taste

• Pastry

• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cup shortening or 3⁄4 cup  lard
• 1⁄4 cup cold water

Directions

1. Place chicken, onion, celery and salt in a large pot. Add enough water to completely cover the chicken. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until chicken is tender and cooked through, about 1 hour.
2. Remove chicken from broth and cool enough to handle. Pick chicken off the bones and discard bones.
3. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
4. Remove celery and onion from broth. Measure broth and return 3 cups to the pot.
5. In a small bowl, blend 1/4 cup flour with 1/4 cup water to make a smooth paste. Stir into hot broth. Cook 5 to 10 minutes or until broth is thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over chicken.
6. For Pastry:
7. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt.
8. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture forms coarse crumbs.
9. Sprinkle with cold water and mix until dough hold together and will form a ball.
10. Roll out on a floured board or pastry cloth to about 1/4 inch thickness.
11. Cut into strips and place over the chicken. Bake at 375 degrees F until the pastry is golden brown.