Mom's Hearty Beef Stew with Dumplings

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 pounds cubed beef stew meat
• 1 onion , coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons steak seasoning , divided
• 2 stalks celery , each cut into 4 pieces
• 6 cups water , divided, or as needed
• 4 packages dry brown gravy mix , .85 ounce
• 4 carrots , peeled and quartered
• 1 small turnip , peeled and quartered
• 7 potatoes , peeled and quartered

Instructions

1. 1

   To prepare beef stew: Heat oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until oil is shimmering. Add beef and onion. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon steak seasoning. Stir beef and onions well and sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon steak seasoning. Add celery; cook and stir until beef is browned, about 10 minutes.

2. 2

   Pour in 2 cups water, or as needed to just cover beef and vegetables. Bring to a boil and stir and scrape browned bits of meat from the bottom of the pan. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until the beef is very tender, about 2 hours.

3. 3

   Remove beef and celery pieces from the pan. Set beef aside and discard celery.

4. 4

   Whisk gravy mix with 4 cups water in a bowl. Add gravy mixture to the juices in the pot, bring to a boil, and stir beef back into the gravy mixture.

5. 5

   Stir in carrots and turnip, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in potatoes, cover, and simmer for an additional 20 minutes.

6. 6

   To make the dumplings: Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture with a pastry cutter or two knives until the mixture looks crumbly. Pour in milk and lightly stir the mixture just until it combines to form a dough.

7. 7

   Remove 2 cups of gravy from the pot and reserve. Drop dumplings by heaping tablespoon onto the beef and vegetables in the pot, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes (do not peek until the time is up).

8. 8

   Pour reserved gravy back over the dumplings, stir lightly, and serve.