Comfort Foods For All!

I love recipes, comfort foods and so does almost everyone I know!  Of course, the epitome of taste and flavor comes from fine ingredients such as...you guessed it...Watkins products.  

Watkins spices and soup bases are simply yummy.  Few people have the time to make soup stocks from scratch, but the alternative is expensive canned broth or flavored cubes of salt.  I keep my cupboards stock with Watkins Soup and Gravy Mixes.  They are always ready when I am cooking in a hurry.  And, it seems I am always in a hurry!  Enjoy this recipe, I think you will be thrilled with your results!

Apple Cider Chicken and Dumpling Recipe
8 bone-in chicken thighs (3 pounds), skin removed
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Watkins Sea Salt and Watkins Black Pepper to taste
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth (Make with 3 cups warm water and ¼ cup Watkins Chicken Soup Base, or to taste)
1 cup apple cider or juice
Dumplings
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Watkins Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cold butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
2/3 cup milk

In a Dutch oven, brown chicken in butter; remove and set aside. In the same pan, combine the onion, celery, parsley, salt and pepper; cook and stir until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with flour and mix well. Add broth and cider. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add chicken.

Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes. Increase heat to 425°.
For dumplings, combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Combine egg and milk; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Drop batter into 12 mounds onto hot broth.

Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 10 minutes. Cover and bake 10 minutes longer or until a toothpick inserted into a dumpling comes out clean. Yield: 4 servings.