Chicken and Dumplings in a hurry...

Well, I'm not trying to make this a Rachael Ray revisited site...but last night was a Rachel night also.  We had a meeting at J's school to attend so it had to be a quick dinner.  Since she has been sick, I also wanted something that would taste good to her and chicken tenders were on sale at the Publix...so combine the three and you get Rachael Ray's Chicken and Dumplins.  This is a great version that you can pull together in about 30 minutes (it IS Rachael Ray remember) and tastes like it has been simmering all day.  I do like her recipes because they tend to be quick and are usually healthy.  Sure, this has biscuits floating on top, but also has lean chicken, potato, carrots, onions and celery to offset the biscuit...and really...what's a couple of biscuits going to hurt?


RR Chicken and Dumplings


1-1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 potato peeled and diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced or thinly sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 rib celery, diced
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
Salt and Freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
2 tablespoons flour
1 quart chicken broth or stock
1 small box biscuit mix (preferred Jiffy brand)
1/2 cup warm water
Handful of fresh chopped parsley
1 cup frozen green peas (optional in my kitchen)

Dice tenders into bite size pieces and set aside

Place a large pot on stove over medium high heat. Add oil, butter, vegetables and bay leaf and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Season mixture with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. Add flour to the pan and cook 2 minutes. Stir broth in the pot and bring to a boil. Add chicken to the broth and stir.

Place biscuit mix in a bowl. Combine with 1/2 cup warm water and parsley. Drop tablespoonfuls of prepared mix into the pot, spacing dumplings evently Cover pot tightly and reduce heat to medium low. Steam dumplings 8 to 10 minutes. Remove cover and stir chicken and dumplings to thicken sauce a bit. Stir peas into the pan, removed from heat and serve in shallow bowls.