Old Fashioned Chicken N Dumplings

Two years ago, I was introduced to Old Fashioned Chicken N Dumplings at Thanksgiving Dinner with Jonathan's brother and family. As soon as we got home that weekend I became obsessed with mastering the old fashioned dumpling. My previous tasting of Chicken N Dumplings consisted of a batter like dough that was dolloped and steamed on top of a chicken stew. Don't get me wrong, I still love this version of Chicken N Dumplings (especially when Carol makes it), but I was determined to learn how to make an old fashioned rolled Dumpling.
So my obsession began this time, 2 years ago. I was able to get the recipe for the dumplings from Steve's family and I was able to use a traditional chicken stock recipe for the broth. In the last 2 years, I have made this recipe enough and manipulated it enough now to say that I have mastered it to what I think is a GREAT Old Fashioned Chicken N Dumplings. I am now officially ready to debut my recipe with the hopes that someone else may have their interest peaked enough to give it a try. Keep in mind that everything in the broth can be modified to your taste but the dumplings should be made to the recipe. The key to this recipe is to have a very flavorful broth and to roll the Dumplings to just the right thickness. Do not be intimidated by the wordiness of my recipe, it really is quite simple. Below is the recipe and the finished product that was made tonight.
Old Fashioned Chicken N Dumplings
Stock------
3-4 lbs. of chicken parts or 1 whole chicken, rinsed thoroughly.
4 Celery tops with leaves, rinsed (the leaves have the most flavor)
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into thirds
1- Med. Onion, peeled and cut in half
1/2 tsp minced Garlic
2 Bay Leaves
3 Tbsp SALTED Butter
1 tsp pepper
1-tsp salt
2-tsp Chicken bullion Granules (optional for those watching salt intake)

Put Chicken in large stock pot and fill pot with cold water until water comes about 1" over chicken. Add all other Stock ingredients except Chicken Granules.
Bring stock to a rolling boil on high, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Remove pot from heat then remove chicken to cool for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, strain all other ingredients from the broth and discard, leaving only broth. Add Chicken Granules to broth and stir to dissolve. Taste broth at this point to test the salt and pepper. Continue to season to taste if necessary. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove and discard all skin and bones and begin to pull chicken meat apart with hands into bite size pieces. Add pulled chicken back to broth.

Dumplings-----
2 cups All-Purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp SALTED butter
1 cup milk

Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add cold butter and cut in with a pastry blender until small crumbs form (cutting the butter in with 2 knives will also work).
Add milk and stir with a fork until a sticky dough ball forms. Turn dough out on to a wide floured surface. Lightly flour the top of the dough ball and a rolling pin.
Begin to roll out dough, and adding only enough flour as you go to keep from sticking to rolling pin and counter. Roll dough to about 1/8" thick (when dough cooks, it will plump to about 1/4").
Take a pizza cutter and begin to cut dough into long 3/4" wide strips and place on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Add a second layer of wax paper if necessary for a second layer of dough strips. When dough is all on cookie sheet, place in freezer to firm.
This can all be done while the broth is simmering.

When the chicken has been added back to the pot, return pot back to burner and bring to a boil. As soon as the broth starts to boil, the dumplings can now be added. Pull dumplings from freezer and begin snapping each strip 1 at a time into 1 1/2"-2" pieces and adding 1 piece at a time to the broth. Stir lightly. Once all pieces are added, reduce heat to a light simmer and cover pot. Continue to simmer for 20 minutes. Old Fashioned Chicken N Dumplings is now ready to serve!
Hopefully this VERY inexpensive comfort food will keep your family warm on a cold winter day.

Merry Christmas!