Recipe: Shaker Beef Stew with Parsley Dumplings (McCall's)

SHAKER BEEF STEW WITH PARSLEY DUMPLINGS

"The Shakers cultivated herbs extensively. This recipe is a delicious example of the Shaker way with flavorings. The light as air dumplings are flecked with parsley (or marjoram, chives, or chervil). The stew itself takes its hearty flavor as well as its substance from carrots, celery, and onions."

FOR THE STEW:
3 lb. boneless chuck or round, cut into 1 to 1 1/2 inch cubes
1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
1/3 cup chopped celery tops
1 small onion, stuck with 4 whole cloves
2 parsley springs
1 lb. peeled small yellow onions (about 8)
1 lb. medium carrots (about 5), pared and halved crosswise
1 1/2 lbs small new potatoes, pared or scrubbed with skins on (about 10)
2 medium white turnips, pared and quartered, or 4 small, pared and halved
1 1/2 cups celery, cut into 1 inch pieces
FOR THE PARSLEY DUMPLINGS:
2 cups packaged biscuit mix
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 egg
1/2 cup milk

TO PREPARE THE STEW:
On waxed paper, roll beef cubes in flour mixed with salt and pepper, coating evenly on all sides. Reserve remaining flour mixture for later. In hot butter in 6-quart Dutch oven or large pot, brown beef well on all sides, turning with tongs. DO NOT OVERCROWD. As beef is browned, remove, and set aside. Continue browning rest. Take 30 minutes in al to give good rich flavor and brown color.

Return beef to Dutch oven; add bay leaf, thyme, chopped celery, onion with cloves, parsley sprigs. Toss to coat with drippings. Add 3 cups water; bring to boiling; reduce heat, and simmer, covered, 2 hours.

Add onions, carrots, and potatoes; simmer, covered, 20 minutes.

Add turnips and celery; simmer 10 minutes. During this 10 minutes, make dumplings.

TO MAKE THE PARSLEY DUMPLINGS:
In medium bowl, combine biscuit mix and parsley; stir in egg and milk, mixing with fork just until blended.

Drop batter by 10 rounded tablespoonfuls onto gently boiling stew (on meat or vegetables, not in liquid-this makes dumplings soggy), 2 to 3 inches apart, allowing room for expansion. Cook, uncovered, over low heat, 10 minutes. Cover tightly; cook 10 minutes longer.

Using slotted spoon, remove dumplings to heated baking dish; keep warm in oven while thickening the stew.

TO THICKEN THE STEW:
In small bowl, combine 3 Tablespoons reserved flour mixture with 1/4 cup water, stirring until smooth. Stir gently into stew; simmer 5 minutes or until the mixture is thickened.

Replace dumplings on top of stew to serve. Reheat gently, covered, until thoroughly hot.

Makes 8 to 10 servings
Source: McCall's Cooking School