LEARN TO COOK: CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS

Teacher : My Mom-Mom aka my Grandmother
Dish: Chicken & Dumplings
My Mom Mom has been making this famous dish of hers for the last 50 years! Can you believe that?? She’s been making chicken and dumplings for fifty years! I think it’s safe to say she’s perfected her recipe at this point. She started making chicken & dumplings many moons ago back in Delaware to feed her large family (one husband and six children to be exact) because it was cheap, easy to make and the results fed a lot of people. Considering I will probably never have six children (I think I would have had to start by now), I will make it for dinner parties instead!!
The dish is so yummy…imagine the best chicken noodle soup you have ever had and then times it by 100- the “melt in your mouth dumplings” are heaven and the chicken is so moist. Making the dumplings was so much easier than I thought it would be! Mom Mom gave me a quick lesson about how to handle the dough and passed the baton to me but stood by to oversee my work- I think she was pleased with the results.
My Mom Mom is such an incredible lady- she’s smart, lively, funny and opinionated. She loves her family and at 89 has raised six children (3 boys & 3 girls), has six grandchildren (5 boys and me) and one great-grandchild (who happens to be the cutest little lady you may ever meet). She likes to call people “cute as a button” and the way it rolls off her tongue you can’t help but smile. When we were cooking it hit me how thankful I was for this experience. It’s only recently that she moved from Delaware (her home for over 85 years) to Los Angeles and I have had the joy of seeing her more often…lucky me!
This cooking lesson will be up there as one of my top favorite memories from the year because learning how to cook from people I love isn’t just about the food. I love the conversation, I love to hear the stories, I love the laughter and I love the warmth. I also love that my Dad used to eat this dish when he was a little boy and to think that I will make it for my children one day warms my heart (as cliché as that may sound!).
During our afternoon I was also struck by how thankful I am for 365 til 30. It has brought so much joy and brought me closer to everyone in my life. As funny as this may sound, it’s brought my life to life! I cherish these moments with the people I love and learning their favorite dishes has become one of the best parts of 365 til 30.
The best take away from the evening other than a full belly was the hand-written recipe she wrote for me. I’m a sucker for hand written recipes…especially one that was signed with this…
For my one and only darling Granddaughter, Kate
Mom Mom with Love.
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RECIPE
thoroughly wash organic chicken and place in roasting pan with chopped celery and onion/ Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours/to prepare dumpling mix add 2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 3/4 cup warm water/ roll out on lightly floured surface/ drop in one inch pieces and cook for 7 minutes.
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Tags: 365, 365 til, 365 til 30, adventure, chicken & dumplings, Cooking, dinner parties, goals, grandmother, Gratitude, happy, humor, Inspiration, inspirations, journey, Joy, Kate McClafferty, Kitchen, Laughter, Learn to Cook, turning 30
You are so lucky to have your mom-mom. That is my name too:). I can taste that soup now. Sounds so good. Yummy. I have been down for 3 weeks with my knee or I would hobble down south and get some. I would even eat Gluten to have some and the delicious memory to go with it. Your favorite fan
Mom mom is your name too!!??! I love it! I am so sorry to hear about your knee. If I lived closer I would bring you some soup! Feel better…xo
This just made me very hungry . . .
Simon it is a great recipe! If you make it be prepared to feed a lot!
you both looked like you were enjoying yourselves! thanks for sharing. wished i could have rang the door-bell at dinner time!
David in Maine USA
We did:) Thanks for reading….
Kate in LA
I adore you and I am so glad you had this experience… It will live in you forever. xo
What a kind thing to say Erika. I appreciate you, your kind words and support!!! xoxo
Sounds like this experience was satisfying in so many ways which makes reading it fulfilling, too. I was reminded of what a friend of mine who is a foodie said at a cooking lesson I went to of his recently…..he loves food not just because it is good to eat, but it serves as a medium for sharing stories and sharing life. So glad for you my friend!
I am a product of many dumplings!!!!! RISE UP DUMPLINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!