Warm Up with Homemade Stew and Dumplings This Winter

Now that summer has come and gone, and the barbeque has been stored away for the winter, it's time to do all your cooking indoors. What could be more warming on a cool fall or frigidly cold winter day than a pot of home made stew with dumplings? It will definitely take the chill off the body.

I also decided to post this recipe for all the new young cooks out there. Every now and then, my own children will call me up to ask for a recipe of mine or directions for making a certain dish. I thought there might be other new young cooks who are trying recipes for the very first time and don't quite know all the instructions. So here is my recipe for homemade stew with dumplings:

INGREDIENTS

1 package of stewing beef, OR a medium sized steak or a small roast beef cut up in cubes

1 large onion, sliced or diced

approximately 2 - 4 tbsp cooking oil

approximately 1/4 cup of unbleached flour

water

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup finely chopped potatoes

1 cup diced carrots

1 cup sliced celery

1 cup peas

1/4 cup barley or rice (optional)

*note: The amount of these ingredients will depend upon the size of your pot and how many family members you are serving.

DIRECTIONS FOR COOKING STEW

If you are using steak or a small roast beef, cut and cube the meat.

In a large pot, on a low heat setting, slowly brown the beef cubes in cooking oil, stirring occasionally. When the meat has been sufficiently browned, add the chopped or sliced onions until they are lightly sauted. Then add the flour and stir well to blend the flour into the meat. Slowly add enough water to amount to 1/4 of your pot. Continue to stir until a gavy sauce has been formed. You can now add some salt and pepper to taste.

Now you can add more water to the pot. Then add your potatoes, celery and carrots (and barley) at this point. These vegetables take longer to cook, so you will add them first. Allow to cook slowly on a low heat (as not to burn the gravy mixture) for approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring periodically. Because the peas don't take long to cook, you can add them a few minutes prior to adding the dumplings.

INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING DUMPLINGS

1 cup unbleached flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

milk

1 tbsp melted butter

First blend together your dry ingredients (the flour, baking powder and salt). In a separate measuring cup, add and beat the egg. Then add enough milk to the egg to make 1/2 cup of liquid. Add this and the melted butter to the dry ingredients and blend well.

ADDING THE DUMPLINGS TO THE STEW

When your stew is just about ready, add the dumpling mixture by the heaping spoonful to the stew. Let simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Then cover the pot and continue simmering for another 10 minutes. Your stew and dumplings are now ready to enjoy.

*note: if you have a larger family to feed, double the dumpling recipe so that each member of your family can enjoy a good sized dumpling in their bowl.