Chicken with Vegetables and Parsley Dumplings

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken leg-thigh pieces with salt and pepper. Add chicken to skillet and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Add 1-inch pieces of celery, onion, and carrot, and bay leaf. Cook until vegetables begin to soften, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add wine and stir 1 minute, scraping up browned bits. Add broth, cover, and braise in oven until chicken is tender, about 40 minutes.

   Step 2

   Transfer chicken to plate. Strain broth into medium bowl, pressing on solids to release liquid. Discard solids in strainer. Remove meat from leg-thigh chicken pieces and transfer to bowl. Discard skin and bones. DO AHEAD: Broth and chicken can be made 1 day ahead. Cover broth and chicken separately and refrigerate.

   Step 3

   Cook sugar snap peas and chopped celery in large saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Using slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to bowl of ice water to cool. Cook baby carrots in same water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to same bowl of ice water to cool. Cook pearl onions in same water until tender, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to bowl of ice water to cool. Trim root end of onions; peel. Transfer sugar snap peas, celery, baby carrots, and pearl onions to medium bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

   Step 4

   Melt butter in heavy very large skillet or large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken breast pieces with salt and pepper; add chicken to skillet and sauté 2 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and stir over medium-low heat until chicken is just cooked through, about 8 minutes. Stir in reserved chicken leg-thigh meat, chicken broth, sugar snap peas, celery, carrots, pearl onions, cream, parsley, and thyme. Stir until vegetables are warm and sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Season chicken and vegetables to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in dumplings and simmer until dumplings are warmed through, about 1 minute.