Southern Mississippi Chicken and Dumplings Recipe: For Thanksgiving Leftovers

Yeah, I know it's full of fat but, hey y'all, it's really good! This recipe is for really creamy chicken and dumplings. My grandma used to ask what I wanted for my birthday when I was growing up, a cake or chicken and dumplings. I always asked for the chicken and dumplings. Feel free to replace the milk and heavy cream with fat free milk. The recipe will still turn out, it just won't be as creamy. I also use this recipe to get rid of leftover turkey after Thanksgiving.

My son recently had a project at school to bring in food that he had made. He really wanted to bring chicken and dumplings (pronounced chicken 'n' dumplins where I'm from in Mississippi) because it was his favorite meal that I cook for him. I decided that, since I had never used a recipe to make it, not only would I help him make some but, I would also help him with a recipe for it.

I don't usually write down recipes because I always just wing it. I make my baking mix from scratch because I don't like to use preservatives in my cooking but, I'm sure it will be just as good with store bought baking mix. on high heat. Reduce to medium/high heat and continue to boil for 40:00 min. Keep an eye on it because sometimes the fat on the chicken will cause a white fluffy substance to form.

Just remove that with a ladle and continue to boil. Remove chicken from pot into You can skim off the fat from the top if you are trying to watch the fat. I for one leave it in there. Refrigerate the chicken until cool to the touch. Remove skin and bones. Cut into bite size pieces. Return to saved water. Return water to boil. In large bowl, mix Baking Mix and water to form a stiff dough.

Turn onto a floured surface. Knead for 1 minute. Use rolling pin to make into a flat dough like a pizza 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 1/4 squares using a pizza cutter. Drop squares one at a time into boiling chicken while stirring after each 10. Add milk and cream . Return to boil . Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining ingredients and stir for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

**Hint...if you don't want to roll out the dough and cut it into squares, you can just drop it into the water by the teaspoon full. It will form little biscuits instead of the dumplings.

My Baking Mix Recipe

9 cups of flour

1/4 cup of sugar (I use sugar in the raw but, I'm sure regular sugar will be just fine)

1 tbsp salt (I use kosher)

1/3 cup baking powder

2 cups shortening

Mix all ingredients, except for shortening, together in a large bowl. Cut in shortening using a large fork until all large clumps are gone. I use my hands but, I figured I would put a fork here for those of you that don't like to get stuff on your hands. Oh, wash your hands first. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

5 chicken leg quarters

enough water to cover chicken

4 cups Baking Mix

1 cup of water

4 cup of milk

1 cup of heavy cream

1 tablespoon poultry seasoning

1 1/2 tablespoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon ground sage

1 teaspoon pepper

Add leg quarters to 5 quart stock pot. Cover with water . Bring to a boil

a large bowl. Save water.