We are socked in after a bad ice storm because the one thing you can usually count on about Texas weather — it’s changeability — isn’t happening. We’ve been below freezing for about 50 hours and we still have about 20 hours to go. And that non-frozen window is only supposed to last a few hours tomorrow afternoon.

So much sleet fell it looks like snow.

Time to get out great-grandma’s chicken and dumplings recipe. Seventy years later, the notepaper she used to write it down for Aunt Regina is just about as interesting. I’m going to have to consult other recipes on making chicken and dumplings. I’m finding I’m having to do this with some of the recipes Regina kept. During our last visit, Regina, Patti, and I were talking about the skeletal information she had on her recipes and she admitted, “Yes, we wrote them out for people who already know how to cook.”

(I started the fruitcake last weekend. It’s like an Irish soda bread or other boiled fruit cake. The cloves and cinnamon smell so good, as does that brandy.)

Update: Here’s a complete recipe. The kids give it two spoons up.

Chicken and Dumplings

Inspired by Great-Grandma Minnie Dillard and Gourmet Magazine

2 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon each salt and pepper

1 whole chicken

1/2 cup carrots, diced

1/2 cup celery, diced

1 onion, diced

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

6 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup apple cider

 

2 cups flour

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

½ cup buttermilk

 

½ cup milk

2 Tablespoons butter

Wash chicken and cut into serving size pieces (wings, legs, thighs, breast cut into quarters). Mix salt and pepper into flour, dredge chicken pieces in flour.

In Dutch oven, melt butter and oil. Brown chicken on both sides and set aside. (may need to do this in two batches)

Saute diced onion, carrots, and celery in the oil, butter and chicken bits for several minutes. Add thyme and turmeric and stir a few seconds until it becomes fragrant. Pour in chicken broth and apple cider. Mix well and then gently return chicken pieces to the broth. Cover and simmer 20-30 minutes.

Combine flour, salt and baking powder in bowl. Stir baking soda into buttermilk. Add ½ cup to ¾ hot broth to buttermilk. Stir into dry ingredients and make a rather stiff dough. Roll out thin and leave 10 minutes to rest. Cut in strips and peel off pieces, putting a few at a time in the hot broth until all are added.

Finish the broth with milk and butter.

This is only the recipe for the filling. Roll out your favorite crust before putting this together. (I would add a splash of Wild Turkey bourbon to this mix. I’ll bet Aunt Regina did from time to time, too.)

If you want to make pies that defy the season, try these keepers from Aunt Regina. Although, it is possible to grow strawberries in the fall in Texas, if you’re a real gambler. Mr. Lynn Remsing, down there at Gnismer Farm near Arlington in Dalworthington Gardens, has been known to plant “holiday” strawberries.  I wish I could afford to buy his farm. It went up for sale in August.

I have my own “heirloom” berry pie recipes here.

This recipe came as a two-fer on a mimeograph copy. Be sure the chocolate has cooled before you begin. The eggs should be cold, from the refrigerator, and added one at a time. When you’re done, chill it a few hours before serving.

It was exciting to see a feature in the current issue of Texas Monthly dedicated to old school recipes and cookbooks like the ones we captured at Aunt Regina’s.

As much pie as we’d eat at her place, I expected more pie recipes. She had just four recipes in her accordion folder: French silk, strawberry, cherry and pecan, the national pie of Texas. I will roll them out this weekend.

For most pies, it’s the crust that’s key. Most fruit fillings only require you to put a little sugar and flour or cornstarch with a pat of butter on top. Aunt Regina had two recipes for crust, including one that makes enough for more than one pie: