Ingredients

  • 3 lbs roasting chickens, cut up
  • 6 cups cold water
  • 3 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 6 peppercorns
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 10 3/4 ounces chicken broth
  • 10 3/4 ounces cream of chicken soup
  • 10 3/4 ounces cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup celery, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups carrots, chopped
  • 1/4 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 cup potato, chopped
  • 1 small bay leaf
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 2 teaspoons salt, DIVIDED
  • 2 cups flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 egg, well beaten
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup milk

Method

  • Place chicken, water, bouillon, peppercorns, and cloves in kettle and bring to a boil.
  • Later you must remove the cloves.
  • Reduce heat; simmer until chicken is tender (about 1 hour).
  • Cool chicken just slightly; cut into bite size pieces and set aside and look for the cloves.
  • Strain and skim the chicken broth.
  • Put the reserved chicken and strained broth in a large kettle; add cans of broth, chicken and mushroom soups, celery, carrots, onion, potatoes, bay leaf, peas, and one teaspoon of salt.
  • Put cover onto kettle; simmer soup on low heat for 2-3 hours, or until the vegetables are tender.
  • About 30 minutes before serving, mix up dumplings by putting flour, one teaspoon salt, baking powder, and pepper together in a medium bowl.
  • Add egg, melted butter, and enough milk to make moist, stiff batter.
  • Drop by teaspoons into boiling liquid.
  • Cook, covered and without "peeking", for 18-20 minutes or until the dumplings are done.