Oh yeah that does sound more tasty than using shortening. I might have to experiment, Now that I’m a southerner :-)
I’ve made the Cooks Illustrated Chicken and Dumplings many times; it always turns out great. It is posted, sometimes in slight variations, in a number of places:
http://fourcornersfarm.com/blog/2011/07/23/cooks-illustrated-chicken-and-dumplings/