Grandma's Favorite Chicken & Dumplings | Mama's Cooking

Ingredients

• 1 (2 1/2-3-pound) whole chicken
• 1 cup celery stalks, roughly chopped
• 1 cup carrots, roughly chopped
• 2 quarts water
• 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more, to taste, for dusting a work surface
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 3/4 cup whole buttermilk
• fresh chives, optional, to taste, chopped, for garnish