Dare I admit that I have made it to my 38th year without ever trying a dumpling and felt it was high time I got down to business. Dumplings are probably one of the easiest things in the world to make, and this Chicken & Dumplings recipe is no exception.

Chicken &

1/2 lb Turkey Sausage or Regular Sausage(depending on your dietary needs and wants)
1/2 lb Bacon Cut into to smallish pieces
1 lb Boneless Chicken Breast or Thighs(depending on your dietary needs and wants)
1 small to medium onion
2-3 cloves Garlic grated
1/4 cup Flour
1 quart Chicken Stock

In a Stock Pot (if you have one) saute bacon until almost crispy and good fat rendered. Add onions, cook until translucent. Add Sausage until almost browned. Add Chicken until Almost done. Add Garlic. Add Flour and cook until you get a nice brown coat on pot bottom. Add Stock and bring to temp. You should have a nice gravy. Season to taste. Let cook for 5 minutes.

Using a scoop, or tablespoon drop quarter size amount of dumpling right on top of the chicken stew. DON'T MIX. Just let them sit on top and don't over crowd the the dumplings because they will "bake" and "swell" to tremendous proportions. Let it cook for about 15 minutes or until dumplings have risen and are pillowy.

Dumplings:
2 cups Flour
1 cup milk
4 tsp Baking Soda
2 tblsp Margarine or Soft Butter
1 tsp Salt

If you want some extra flavor add the following to the dry ingredients before you add the milk and butter

1/2 tsp Sage
1/2 tsp Thyme
1/2 tsp Rosemary
1/2 tsp Pepper

Mix it all together and you get a batter that is twice as thick as pancake batter. Set aside
Chocolate Strawberry and Shortcake Strawberry &:

1 lb Strawberries sliced or halved
2 tblsp Sugar

Mix together in a bowl and cover with plastic and set aside or in the fridge.

Shortcake:

2 cups Flour

4 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

4 tblsp Cold Butter

3/4 cup Heavy Cream

3 tbsp Sugar

2 tbsp Cocoa

Mix together and use the drop method to place the sticky dough on a cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes. You can also brush heavy cream on top of the uncooked cakes and sprinkle sugar for a sweet and glossy top. Let cool and stack whipped cream, strawberries and whipped cream in the middle of the cake along with sweet juice from the strawberries.

And enjoy, yum, yum