1-pot chicken & dumplings

I'm happy to be guesting on Shuttersmack today and posting one of my all time favorite meals: a delicious twist on ye ol' chicken soup and dumplings!Why do I love this recipe? It's juicy, the meat melts right off the bones, it's puts up with all the extra vegetables I toss in, it's the best kind of comfort food all year round, it'll make your house smell amazing, it's eeeeeeeasy, and you make it all in one pot! Why do I hate this recipe? It disappears way too fast :(.Treat this recipe as a guide and manipulate to your heart's content. I add extra veggies, use up whatever herbs and spices are on hand, and you know what? Dumplings do nothing for me so I leave them out (but they're a huge hit with the kiddos).Enjoy!♥♥♥ MargaretIngredients:1 whole chicken, cut into piecessalt & pepper1 Tbsp. butter2 Tbsp. olive oil4 celery ribs, roughly chopped4 large carrots, roughly chopped1 large leek, roughly chopped2 slices smoked bacon, finely diced3 dried bay leaves2 tsp. thyme2 tsp. basil1/2 c. white wine2 c. vegetable stock2 c. waterDumplings:2 c. flour2 Tbsp. baking powder1 1/4 c. half and half1 tsp. saltPreheat oven to 400 degrees.Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels; season generously with salt and pepper. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large dutch oven (or oven-safe pot with a lid) over medium-high heat. Thoroughly brown the chicken pieces (in batches if necessary), about 7-8 minutes per side; set aside.Leaving the fat in the pot, add the vegetables, bacon, bay leaf, and thyme and cook 15 minutes over medium-low heat. Add the white wine, bring to a boil, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the stock and water and bring to a boil. Remove pot from heat and return chicken to the pot. Place a piece of parchment paper in the shape of your crock pot over the chicken and cover with the lid.Bake 90 minutes.Discard the parchment paper and scoop large spoonfuls of the dumpling mixture on top of the chicken (about 10 dumplings). Cover and bake an additional 15 minutes, until dumplings are cooked through.*heavily adapted from this book, which looks ridiculous but is in fact full of all the things I love to eatPS,This isn't savory but it's what's for dessert. I'm sorry. Recipe here.