Mums Beef Stew With Dumplings Recipes

MUM'S BEEF STEW WITH DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Chop beef into 1" cubes. Place some flour in a plastic bag shaking several cubes at a time until coated.
• Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven until almost smoking; then add beef and pepper and brown all over.
• Add onion, garlic, thyme, celery seed, savory and cook until the onion is translucent.
• Add the wine or beer and cook for 5 minute Then add water and bring to a boil, scraping up browned flour from the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat, then cover and simmer for an hour.
• Peel carrots, potato and rutabaga. Cut the carrots and celery into 1/2" slices, and the potato and rutabaga into 1 1/2" cubes.
• Add to meat (adding extra water if needed), also adding bay leaves, bouillon and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes. (If making the dumplings, add them with 15-20 minutes of cook time remaining.).
• Add peas and salt 5 minutes before serving.
• DUMPLINGS: Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne. Add Italian seasoning and mix.
• Using a pastry cutter, chop in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
• Add enough milk to make a thick batter that can be mounded up in a spoon and dropped.
• Drop the dough onto the stew (ensuring there is plenty of liquid in it), letting the dumpling rest on top. Cover tightly and cook without raising the cover for 15-20 minutes.

MOM'S HEARTY BEEF STEW WITH DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering, and place the onion and beef into the hot oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the steak seasoning, stir the meat and onions well, and sprinkle with 1 more teaspoon of seasoning. Add the celery, and cook and stir until the meat is browned, about 10 minutes.
• Pour in 2 cups of water to just cover the meat, onion, and celery, bring to a boil, and stir and scrape the browned bits of flavor from the bottom of the pan. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until the beef is very tender, about 2 hours. Remove the meat and celery pieces from the pan, set the meat aside, and discard the celery.
• In a bowl, whisk together the gravy mix with 4 cups of water. Add the mixture to the juices in the pot, bring to a boil, and stir the meat back into the gravy mixture. Stir in the turnip and carrots, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in the potatoes, cover, and simmer an additional 20 minutes.
• To make dumplings, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or two knives until the mixture looks crumbly. Pour in the milk, and lightly stir the mixture just until it combines to form a dough.
• Remove 2 cups of gravy from the pot, and reserve. Drop the dumplings by heaping tablespoon onto the meat and vegetables in the pot, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not peek until the time is up. Pour the reserved gravy back over the dumplings, stir lightly, and serve.