by Anne Sanders

Created on: May 11, 2010

Wherever you are, when it's cold and rainy outside the tent, chicken and dumplings are one of the best comfort foods around. They are also one of the easiest if you try some shortcuts for cooking them while camping.

The main seasoning for chicken and dumplings is something you will want to bring on your trip anyway-salt and pepper. Who can live without the cardboard salt and pepper shakers with retractable lids when in the great outdoors?  The chicken itself is the next main seasoning for dumplings and it can be handled in several ways for ease.

When cooking chicken and dumplings at home, you will usually stew a chicken; debone it; place the meat back in the water; and add dumplings. That takes too much time from hiking, fishing and enjoying the great outdoors. Instead, stew a chicken at home and pack the meat, or buy a premade rotisserie chicken and bring the meat from it. Many also like a white meat dumpling stew, so you can also bring chicken breast tenders cut into bite sized pieces and stew them at the site. For ease of transportation and peace of mind, freeze the tenders after you cut them. The last and simplest option is to buy canned chunk-style chicken and bring a can opener.

You will need to add at least two quarts of water to your Dutch oven; put in the chicken and some chicken bouillon; and then add salt and pepper to taste. I prefer the bouillon granules or a bouillon paste but for those, you need a tablespoon for measuring. For easier transport, the good old fashioned cubes work fairly well and can be thrown in with your salt and pepper in a plastic bag to keep seasonings dry.   

The dumplings themselves can be done several different ways to save time and packing space. The easiest way to do dumplings with the least mess as well, is to buy them premade and frozen. For this option, I suggest Mary B's Dumplings if you can get them. Called the "open kettle" dumplings, they are easily stackable and serve a large family with plenty left over for neighboring campers who stop by or even a second meal. They are so convenient because they are frozen in rectangles that stack so they take up very little room. However, you will probably need to add an extra quart of water to fit them all in your pot and they should cook for 35 to 45 minutes.

Another timesaving option with dumplings is biscuit dough. You can quarter the biscuits into chunks at home or the campsite for great dumplings that are lighter and fluffier than standard fare. If you like

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