Mom's Hearty Beef Stew with Dumplings

1 . Stage

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

2 . Stage

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

3 . Stage

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

4 . Stage

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

5 . Stage

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

6 . Stage

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 . Stage

Remove 2 cups of gravy from the pot and reserve. Drop 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).

8 . Stage

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