Mom's Hearty Beef Stew with Dumplings Recipe

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.