Around these parts, Chicken and Dumplins is food currency. That is illustrated by when it graces the tables in the East Tennessee mountains. Chicken and Dumplins are served at Thanksgiving; it makes an appearance at Christmas; it is part of Easter feasts; it is Sunday dinner when the preacher comes to call. Chicken and Dumplins is funeral food (when someone passes and people bring food to the mourning family), and it is also the food that shows just who is most favored. "I heard mama made Chicken and Dumplins for Jimmy for his birthday supper." Shakes head, "Well, she always did love him best."