CHICKEN -AND- DUMPLING SOUP

Active: 50 min/ total: 2hr 45min/ serves 8

• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
• 4 cloves of garlic; minced
• 2 carrots; diced
• 1 bulb celery root,peeled and finely diced
• 1 turnip, peeled and finely diced
• 1 rutabaga,peeled and finely diced
• 1 onion; finely diced
• 1 bulb fennel,finely diced
• Kosher salt
• 4 cups white wine
• 1 tablespoonful seeds, toasted
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 1/2 - pound organic chicken
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup chicken fat(sold fresh or frozen in tubs at gourmet stores)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg]freshly ground pepper
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1. Melt the butter in a 6-quart pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, carrots, celery root, turnip, rutabaga, onion, diced fennel and a large pinch of salt; cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the wine,6 cups water,fennel seeds, thyme and bay leaves; bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and simmer for 2 hours. Remove the chicken and let cool.Pick of the meat in shreds; set aside.
3. About 15 minutes before the chicken has finished simmering, prepare the dumplings: Combine the milk, chicken fat, 1 tablespoon of tarragon, the nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium saucepan Bring a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat; add the flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the liquid is absorbed. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, to make a thick dough.
4. Bring the soup to a boil. Form the dough into eight dumplings(an ice cream scoop is perfect for this): drop into the soup. Cover and cook until the dumplings float to the surface, about 10 minutes.
5. Add the chicken meat, parsley and the remaining 1 tablespoon tarragon to the soup; stir carefully and divide among warm bowls.