Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

This is a small batch of Chicken and Dumplings you can make and it doesn’t even have to be THANKSGIVING! It taste just as good as the big ole batch!
Ingredients
1 (3 -6 lb) frying chickens ( any whole chicken will do)
2 quarts water
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper ( I use coarse ground and double it)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons shortening ( I use Crisco sticks)
3/4 cup buttermilk ( I add 1 tbsp. vinegar to 1 cup milk let sit 5 minutes, then measure 3/4 cup)
Directions

  1. Place chicken in a Dutch oven. Add water and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil.
  1. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 1 hour or until tender (should almost fall off bone).
  1. Remove the chicken from the broth and cool. Bone the chicken and cut meat into bite-sized pieces.
  1. Bring the broth to a boil and add pepper.
  1. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Cut in the shortening. Add the buttermilk, stirring with a fork until moistened.
  1. Knead the dough 4 to 5 times (never done), and pat to 1/2-inch pieces and drop into boiling broth (I do not pat it out, just pinch off pieces). Reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  1. Stir in the chicken and serve. I make it in the pressure cooker, much quicker and easier.
  1. I pressure it for only 30 minutes.
  1. It can also be done in the crockpot with 3-4 cups water but someone has that book so at this time I cannot give cooking times.
  1. Good Luck! Hope you enjoy.