CHICKEN N PASTRY RECIPES

Steps:

• Rinse chicken and discard giblets.
• In a large pot boil the chicken with bay leaves, salt and pepper.
• Remove the chicken to a platter to cool; once cool enough to handle, remove meat from the bones.
• Skim the fat from the broth and add enough water to get 4 or 5 qts (I use a skimmer cup).
• Bring broth to a rolling boil and drop the frozen pastry strips in a few at a time, stirring to separate and return to a boil before dropping in more.
• When all the strips are in the pot, reduce heat to medium-low and let boil a few minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and stir in chicken meat and cream of chicken soup, stirring until chicken soup is incorporated.
• Season to taste with black pepper- should already be salty enough from the cream of chicken soup, but taste and add salt if necessary.
• Remove from heat, cover and let stand 15 minutes before serving.
• I serve this with cornbread; green peas are a good side dish.

Steps:

• Remove neck, gizzards and any other parts that might be inside the bird.
• Rinse the bird, inside and outside, under cool running water.
• Cut the chicken into pieces
• Place cut chicken in a large stock pot, cover with about 6 inches of water.
• Place on Medium-High heat and let come to a boil.
• Boil chicken about 45-55 minutes or until done.
• Remove chicken from water, place pieces in a pan to cool. Do not discard the water in the pot.
• Turn the heat off under the pot while the chicken is cooling.
• Allow chicken to cool enough to handle and remove chicken from bones.
• Skim as much fat as possible that has surfaced in the stock pot. Discard the fat.
• Remove ¾ cup of broth from the pot and set aside. You’ll need it to make the dough.
• Place the bones back in the pot and add water to cover about 2 inches.
• Let simmer on Medium-Low heat while you make the pastry dough.
• In a medium bowl, add flour and one teaspoon of salt. Sift together.
• Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the ¾ cup of the chicken broth.
• Mix together until you have a slightly moist dough ball.
• Generously flour your table, countertop or large cutting board.
• Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick.
• Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife and cut the dough into strips about 1 inch wide.
• Cut each strip into sections about 2 inches long.
• Let the dough pieces rest for about 30 minutes to dry out some.
• Remove the chicken bones from the stock pot.
• If needed, add enough water to equal about one gallon of liquid in the pot.
• Add chicken base or granules as needed to create a good tasting broth.
• Bring the chicken stock to a low boil and drop pieces of dough, one by one, into the stock.
• Try not to drop dough pieces on top of each other and DO NOT STIR.
• Add the shredded pieces of chicken to the pot.
• Add Black Pepper to taste.
• Test the pastry before adding any additional salt. Add salt if needed and stir gently.
• Simmer for about 15 minutes until dough pieces are fully cooked and tender.
• Serve warm and enjoy.