Recipe(tried): Slippery Dumplings

I know, I know. I should have posted this recipe when there was all the discussion about chicken & dumplings. I post it today, as a TKL topic side dish because the recipe that I have is from some magazine from several years ago that the people at my dentist's office copied for me. It was an article on food from Maryland and is meant to be served as a side dish with Maryland fried chicken. I use them in my chicken & dumpling recipe which is a bit more like a chicken stew with vegetables. I add them to the broth & these seem to make it thicken and give it a creamy cosistency. I don't use cream or milk in mine. I guess it is a bit unconventional but I kind of made it up myself. I wish that I had had the people at the dentists copy all of the recipes but I didn't dare ask them to do the entire article so here we go...

Slippery Dumplings...as the article says,"Chewy and dripping in buttery chicken broth, these aptly named dumplings are the perfect accompaniment for chicken."

Makes 4 to 6 servings

2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. vegetable shortening
1/2 to 3/4 cup hot water
2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans condensed chicken broth
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. butter

1. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture forms fine crumbs. Stir enough hot water into flour mixture to make a firm but manageable dough.

2. Meanwhile, in 4-quart saucepan, combine broth and water. Heat to boiling. Add butter; let butter melt and float on top of broth.

3. On floured board, roll out dough to 1/16 inch thickness. With knife, cut into 2 inch squares.

4. Drop dumplings, one at a time, into boiling broth (butter floating on top will coat and help keep dumplings from sticking together). Reheat broth to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and cook dumplings, uncovered, until just tender - about 15 min. Spoon dumplings into serving bowl with some of cooking liquid and serve.

These are really tasty and good as a side dish or as part of chicken & dumplings.