Pure Comfort Food

This is a dish that i dream about on cold, winter nights.
It takes a few additional steps but is oh , so worth it . It is good to make when you are bored or lonely or even sickly. I dragged my miserable achy body out of bed to make this last night and never regretted the effort it took .
Goodbye , flu here come the troops ...


A word to the wise - don't over work the dumpling dough if you like fluffy light, melt in your mouth dumplings and use all organic produce if you can for a really outstanding dish.

Chicken & Herbed Dumplings


Ingredients

for stock -

1 4-6 lb. organic or free-range chicken ( make a HUGE difference )
2 bay leaves
1 tblspoon of Crazy-mixed -up salt ( this is my secret ingredient)
a handful of peppercorns
the tops of one bunch of celery ( with leaves)
4 carrots , unpeeled
2 onions chopped into quarters, unpeeled
Fill a large stockpot with water to cover chicken adequately

simmer all of the above for an hour or more until chicken is almost falling off the bone
(on medium-low heat - NOT boiling )

Cool and strain , reserving liquid which is now the stock for the base of this dish, carefully removing chicken carcass and stripping to remove all of the meat.

for the chicken stew -

In a large enameled casserole stock-pot Heat the following ingredients :

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
5 large celery ribs , chopped
4 large carrots , chopped
1 large onion , chopped
when softened add 2 tablespoons or more of flour to coat and heat until lightly browned
add enough vermouth to deglaze the bottom of pan then-
add enough stock to fill three quarters of the pot , add the reserved chicken , a good handfull of chopped fresh parsley and 1/2 cup of frozen or fresh peas, stirring until well mixed

to make the dumplings -

Mix 2 cups of flour , 1 teaspoon salt , 1 tablespoon of baking powder , chopped herbs of your choice ( about 1/2 cup) - add 3/4 cups whole milk , 1/4 cup buttermilk and three tablespoons of butter that have been heated and stir into dry ingredients , folding carefully to keep mixture airy . Dollop into simmering stew and cook for 15-18 minutes covered .

Voila !
Comfort for the cold , weary and infirm ( and just plain sick of Winter folks )