Help from bread makers

[mmhmm]

I've always used a simple biscuit recipe for dumplings and I've never had a complaint. I usually don't have leftovers, either. No kneading involved. You don't even have to roll it out. You can do drop biscuits. Simple.

[garion2003]

Jan 11, 2015 22:09:12 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

Bread making and dumplings are two different balls of dough.

You don't need a machine or special tool to make dumplings. Just a bowl, a whisk or spoon and the ingredients - the only power you need is a bit of elbow grease to mix the dumpling dough. It's as easy as making pancake batter from scratch and by hand.

yeah, this. Dumplings are more like biscuits. If you work the dough too much it will get tough. You want a lot of gluten development for chewy bread, you don't want a lot of gluten for tender flakey dumplings or biscuits.

But for kneading bread dough I love my kitchen aid with dough hook.

[sarcasticgirl]

Now i want a big bowl of chicken and dumplings! 

[Chocolate Lover]

My very southern 96 year old aunt uses Mary B's brand of frozen flat dumplings and also their biscuits. She's tired of making them all from scratch and these meet her standards.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 11, 2015 17:46:22 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

Sacastcgirl is right...there really isn't any kneading, it's not expected to rise you are basically just mixing. 

In the interest of not using the can o' dough, might I suggest mixing in a bowl then using a spoon to make your dumplings.  

That's all I do - flour, milk, salt and, um either baking powder or baking soda -  whatever is on the recipe I copied from Mom.  Mix in bowl and spoon into stew.  Steam for 10 minutes or so, depending on heat of pot and the size of dumplings.  Large dumplings need a few more minutes to not be sticky in the middle. 

[Blonde Granny]

I have no idea how to use the dough hook to my KA, this might be the time to try it.  How long would I let it mix if I do?.....and how will I know if it's ready?

Shooby or garion better help me with this.

[kadee79]

Jan 11, 2015 19:04:25 GMT -5 Apple said:

I've never rolled out dough for chicken and dumplings, just mix the flour and whatever in a bowl and drop it in by spoonfuls.  Saves time and mess--fast and easy.

That was always how we did on the farm when I was a girl.  We didn't have any counter in the old farm house with a wood cook stove and a cistern pump in one corner....no running water.  When grandma did pie crusts, she rolled them out on the table on waxed paper.

I normally use plastic wrap when I roll stuff.  Easy clean up either way, but we never rolled dumplings!

Now if you are talking about noodles....like some southerners call dumplings, that's a different story, they need to be rolled and cut.  They are thicker & wider than my homemade noodles.

[mmhmm]

I swear, to me the best dumplings are a simple drop biscuit recipe. They're fluffy and delicious and super easy!

[Blonde Granny]

The one recipe I saw on line for making chicken & noodles  had what looked like flat wide noodles, but they were called dumplings.  The other picture had fluffy biscuit looking puffy things also called dumplings.

[Blonde Granny]

Jan 12, 2015 18:31:56 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I swear, to me the best dumplings are a simple drop biscuit recipe. They're fluffy and delicious and super easy!

Many years ago I made biscuits for dinner....I used Bisquick, rolled out the dough and cut them out in circles.  Baked them, and proudly put them on the table.  DH took one, starting look at it, then started laughing.  He took it to the office the next morning so he could show everyone his hockey puck biscuit.

Needless to say, I never made them that way again.

[mmhmm]

LOL! I've never made biscuits with Bisquick. Biscuits are easy to make anyway. My daughter used Bisquick to make biscuits once, though. It wasn't a success. Husband threw them all out. To me, the trick with biscuits is to cut in the butter or shortening well, then don't over-mix. Just stir it together until it's all damp, the clump on a cutting board and pat it sorta flat and about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Cut the biscuits and bake. With dumplings you can eliminate the patting and cutting and just spoon them into the broth.

[chiver78]

Jan 12, 2015 14:27:41 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I have no idea how to use the dough hook to my KA, this might be the time to try it.  How long would I let it mix if I do?.....and how will I know if it's ready?

Shooby or garion better help me with this.

when you figure stuff out, please fill me in! I bought a KA on Black Friday just before I listed my place for sale the first time. I put that box into my POD still factory sealed. I am totally using that thing in the new house!!

[Shooby]

Jan 12, 2015 14:27:41 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I have no idea how to use the dough hook to my KA, this might be the time to try it.  How long would I let it mix if I do?.....and how will I know if it's ready?

Shooby or garion better help me with this.

If you are making biscuits you won't mix too long. If bread you add flour based on the recipe and let it mix to a nice dough ball till it isn't sticking to the bowl.

[Blonde Granny]

Thx Shooby!