Chicken and Cavatelli

Description
So comforting and yummy, this dish reminds us of Grandma's chicken and dumplings. In fact, you can substitute frozen gnocchi dumplings for the cavatelli.
 * Serves: 4

Ingredients

 * 5 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
 * 1 bay leaf
 * 1 onion, cut into thin slices
 * 2 ribs celery, cut into ½-inch pieces
 * 3 carrots, cut into ½-inch pieces
 * 1 teaspoon dried sage
 * 1½ teaspoons salt
 * ¼ teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
 * 4 bone-in chicken breasts (about 2¼ pounds in all)
 * ¾ pound cavatelli (ricotto gnocchi dumplings) (or use cavatelli egg noodles)
 * 2 tablespoons butter, softened
 * 2 tablespoons flour

Directions

 * 1) In a large pot, bring the broth, bay leaf, onion, celery, and carrots to a simmer.
 * 2) Simmer for 5 minutes.
 * 3) Add the sage, salt, pepper, and chicken breasts and simmer, partially covered, until just done, about 25 minutes.
 * 4) Turn the chicken breasts a few times during cooking.
 * 5) Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the cavatelli until just done, about 10 minutes.
 * 6) Drain.
 * 7) In a small bowl, stir the butter and flour together to form a paste.
 * 8) Remove the bay leaf from the pot, push the chicken to the side and then whisk the butter mixture into the liquid.
 * 9) Simmer until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
 * 10) Stir in the cooked cavatelli and simmer until just heated through.