Preparation / Directions:
To make chicken stew: Place chicken in a 4-quart Dutch oven with the water, broth, salt, white pepper, and cayenne. Bring to a boil and skim foam for a minute or two. Reduce heat to a simmer and add garlic, celery, onion, and parsley. Cover and simmer gently 1-1/4 hours before adding dumplings. To make dumplings: Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together. With a fork or pastry blender (or in a food processor), work the shortening into the flour mixture until the texture is that of cornmeal. Rapidly stir in buttermilk. Form dough into a ball and with floured hands knead it on a floured board for a few seconds, until bouncy. Roll out dough into a square or rectangle 1/2 inch thick and cut it into 1-1/2 inch squares. Drop into the hot chicken stew when the chicken is nearly done, cover the pot again and simmer 15 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove chicken and dumplings to a platter or serving dish. Off heat, stir the flour paste into the broth left in the pot. Return to low heat and simmer for a few minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened to a gravy. Pour the gravy over the chicken and dumplings and serve immediately.
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