Place chicken in large pot (6 quart or more)
Add water, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning
Bring to a boil
Reduce Heat and cover
Do not boil
Cook about 45 minutes until chicken is done and about to fall off the bones
While the chicken is cooking
Mix your flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl
Stir in shortening and then milk
You should have a dough that is easy to work
Sprinkle bacon bits across the mixture and work them in as you slowly add them.
Next flour a counter top or cutting board and place your dough on it
Kneed your dough until it is a consistency that satisfies you
Then you have two choices - you can roll the dough to about an 1/8" thickness and cut it into nice looking pieces, or you can just pinch off small pieces and shape them into small balls (about half the size of a golf ball)
If you are going to cut them into nice pieces, you can even make fancy shapes
If your children are helping to make the dumpling they sort of enjoy making hearts, stars, squares, etc. Small cookie cutters work nicely for this. Otherwise, just shaping them into balls works fine
Make sure you have enough liquid to completely cover your dumplings
Turn the heat up to a low boil and slowly add the dumplings
Cover the pot and cook for 15 minutes
Watch the pot to make sure it doesn't boil over
Serve piping hot
This is a dish I always sneaked back into the kitchen for more
of when I
thought nobody was watching. It also tastes great as
leftovers. The flavors
just blend even more. As a variation,
you can also add shredded cheddar
cheese to your dumplings.