Is it me or did most everything just taste better at Grandma's house? My Grandma was a wonderful cook! And she had six daughters to whom she passed on that gift. Family gatherings on that side of the family have always been a glorious, culinary affair. Not gourmet, mind you. But true comfort foods.
Now, my Grandma didn't really use recipes, but we have tried to write them down over the years for posterity's sake. I am currently in the middle of a family project concerning our family recipes. I have been collecting them from family members (on my mother's side) for several years now and am working on a family cookbook~scrapbook style. Yes, it is time consuming (and a little expensive), but I'm excited about how it's turning out. Maybe I'll share that project with you sometime soon.
Personally, I've always been a little hesitant to make some family favorites, thinking they just wouldn't taste as good in my kitchen. Occasionally I've dared to make a family recipe and it's usually a huge success. I think the old comfort recipes truly are simple ones. It's the simplicity that makes them so wonderful.
Yesterday I dared yet again to make one of my Grandma's recipes. Good ol' chicken and dumplings. It couldn't have turned out better! I was almost giddy with excitement, not to mention stuffed to the gills! I couldn't believe how simple and easy it was, too. If you don't already have your own favorite chicken and dumplings recipe, I think you should try this one.
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Now, my Grandma didn't really use recipes, but we have tried to write them down over the years for posterity's sake. I am currently in the middle of a family project concerning our family recipes. I have been collecting them from family members (on my mother's side) for several years now and am working on a family cookbook~scrapbook style. Yes, it is time consuming (and a little expensive), but I'm excited about how it's turning out. Maybe I'll share that project with you sometime soon.
Personally, I've always been a little hesitant to make some family favorites, thinking they just wouldn't taste as good in my kitchen. Occasionally I've dared to make a family recipe and it's usually a huge success. I think the old comfort recipes truly are simple ones. It's the simplicity that makes them so wonderful.
Yesterday I dared yet again to make one of my Grandma's recipes. Good ol' chicken and dumplings. It couldn't have turned out better! I was almost giddy with excitement, not to mention stuffed to the gills! I couldn't believe how simple and easy it was, too. If you don't already have your own favorite chicken and dumplings recipe, I think you should try this one.
Chicken & Dumplings
(my Grandma Tapp)
(my Grandma Tapp)
1 chicken, stewed
1 Tbls. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 qts. water
***
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbls. salt
1 egg, beaten
Enough cooled broth to make a stiff dough
~~~~~
Stew chicken in 1 qt. of water until tender. Cool and remove from bone. Cut chicken into pieces; set aside.
Add 1 qt. of water to broth in pan and also the salt and pepper. Heat to simmer.
Mix dry ingredients. Mix egg with 1 cup of cooled broth; add to dry ingredients mixing to make a dough. Add more broth if needed. Knead on a floured board. Roll very thin. Cut into 1" squares. Drop pieces of dough into simmering broth and cook 20 minutes. Add chicken and heat through.
**I did end up needed to add extra broth to the pot. I already had a jar in the fridge, but canned would work fine, too.
1 Tbls. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 qts. water
***
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbls. salt
1 egg, beaten
Enough cooled broth to make a stiff dough
~~~~~
Stew chicken in 1 qt. of water until tender. Cool and remove from bone. Cut chicken into pieces; set aside.
Add 1 qt. of water to broth in pan and also the salt and pepper. Heat to simmer.
Mix dry ingredients. Mix egg with 1 cup of cooled broth; add to dry ingredients mixing to make a dough. Add more broth if needed. Knead on a floured board. Roll very thin. Cut into 1" squares. Drop pieces of dough into simmering broth and cook 20 minutes. Add chicken and heat through.
**I did end up needed to add extra broth to the pot. I already had a jar in the fridge, but canned would work fine, too.