Homemade Biscuits/ Chicken and Dumplings

My Grandmother and Mother always made homemade biscuits. Not only are they delicious but the recipe serves for homemade dumplings as well. However, for a simpler meal check out the easy Chicken and Dumplings.

Biscuit ingredients:

2 cups flour (additional flour needed dusting)

1 and 1/4 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

6 tablespoons of butter (best if chilled)

vegetable oil

1. In mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
2. Using a pastry cutter or fork, "cut" butter into flour until mixture resembles meal.
3. Add buttermilk. Mixture should be moist and sticky.
4. Grease baking dish and preheat oven to 450 degrees.
5. Dust cutting board or wax paper with additional flour (lightly on hands as well). Spoon desired size onto flour dusted area. Once outside is lightly dusted, fold biscuit with finger tips five times. Place biscuit in greased baking dish. Repeat until all biscuits are made.
6. Dip finger tips in vegetable oil and lightly pat top of each biscuit.
7. Bake on 450 for 10 minutes or until top is lightly golden.

These biscuits are delicious for breakfast or served with dinner!

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings:

Small whole chicken (chicken breast can also be used for smaller portions)

1 chicken bouillon cube or chicken flavor boost

garlic powder

salt

black pepper

1/4 cup buttermilk

homemade biscuits

1. Place chicken in large pot and add water until 3/4 full. Add bouillon cube/flavor boost and seasonings. Cover and boil chicken.
2. For dumplings, complete biscuit receipt through step 3 however use only 1 cup of buttermilk (want to make dumplings slightly dryer then biscuits). On flour dusted cutting board, use rolling pin to roll until 1/4 inch thick.
3. Once dough is rolled completely, cut into thick strips about 3 inches long. (Using a pizza cutter makes for quick strips)
4. Once chicken is fully cooked, remove chicken and turn broth to low. While cooling, add buttermilk and strips of dumplings to broth.
5. Cut chicken and add to dumplings. stir and simmer until 5 minutes until thickened.
6. Add additional pepper if desired. Serve.

Easy Chicken and Dumplings:

Prepare chicken and broth the same as above. Instead of using homemade biscuits, use canned biscuits. Pinch off bit of biscuit, roll into ball, and drop in broth. Done!

Cracker Barrel's Chicken and Dumplings for two people: $16

Easy Homemade Chicken and Dumplings for two people: $8