Make the Soup Base. Add butter to a large pot or Dutch oven on medium heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbly, add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic..  Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.   

Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and flour to the large soup pot. Stir and continue simmering on medium heat.   

After 5 minutes, slowly pour the bone broth and water into the pot and raise the heat to medium-high heat to a low boil. 

Make sourdough dumplings. Combine flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl and whisk.   

Add cold, grated/cubed butter and cut into the flour mixture with a fork. 

Add the egg, sourdough starter, and milk to the large bowl and stir with a spoon until the dough is shaggy. Do not knead.   

Turn out onto a floured surface and fold the dough a few times to work all the flour in. Then roll the dough out into a square so it’s about 1/4” thick. Use a pizza cutter or bench scraper to cut the dumplings to be 1/2” x 1/2”.  

Add the dumplings to the soup base. Once the soup is at a low boil, drop the dumplings in and gently stir. Continue cooking at a boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Add the chicken, cream, and shredded cheese. Stir well, turn the heat down to low, cover with a lid, and wait 10 minutes. 

Remove from heat, and check with a fork to make sure the dumplings are done, you don't want soggy dumplings. Serve hot.