“For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This beef stew has a special place in my heart. It is the very same beef stew that I have been making since the very beginning of my married/family life. When Joe and I married, I purchased my very first cookbook, Betty Crocker’s Cookbook. I had so much to learn! I remember fondly fumbling around in my little kitchen in our furnished one bedroom apartment. I had never made supper! Everything was new; chopping, cooking, and cleaning. It’s a wonder he stuck around so long after enduring so much. My first biscuits were more like hockey pucks than the light fluffy biscuits my mom use to make. I had a lot of disasters. Tuna casserole, Joe? It is still mentioned in hushed tones nearly 25 years later.
Nevertheless, we were content even if the food was poor. When learned “to let it rain.” We laughed at failures knowing that better meals would follow. And they did. When I first made this stew, it was an instant hit and the only beef stew I’ve ever made since. It has a rich beefy taste which pairs so nicely with the parsley dumplings. I do hope you give it a try. It will warm up any home despite the coldest downpour winter has to offer.
*Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker Cookbook
Ingredients (Serves 5)
Beef Stew
1 lb. boneless chuck roast, cut into 1″ cubes
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cups hot water
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 medium carrots, cut into 1″ pieces
1 large potato, cut into 1″ pieces
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1″ pieces
1 stalk celery, cut into 1″ pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup cold water
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Parsley Dumplings
2 tbsp softened butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
Instructions
Beef Stew
Heat olive oil in a pan on medium heat until hot. Add the beef and cook, stirring until well browned all over. Add 3 cups of hot water, 1/2 tsp of salt, and the pepper. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until beef is almost tender about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Stir in carrots, potatoes, celery, green peppers, onions,1 1/2 tsp of salt, and bay leaf. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
Make the parsley dumplings. [Cut butter into the flour, baking powder and salt until mixture resembles small crumbs. Stir in milk. This should make a very soft biscuit like dough. Stir in the parsley.]
After making the parsley dumplings, thoroughly mix a 1/2 cup cold water with the 2 tsp of flour and stir into the stew. Heat to a boiling, stirring constantly for 1 minute then reduce heat to a simmer. Drop dumpling dough by the spoonful into simmering stew. There should be about 10 to 12 dumplings. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
¡Que aproveche!
Beef Stew
Ingredients
- Beef Stew
- 1 lb. boneless chuck roast cut into 1" cubes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cups hot water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 2 medium carrots cut into 1" pieces
- 1 large potato cut into 1" pieces
- 1 green bell pepper cut into 1" pieces
- 1 stalk celery cut into 1" pieces
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- Parsley Dumplings
- 2 tbsp softened butter
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup milk
Instructions
- Beef Stew
- Heat olive oil in a pan on medium heat until hot. Add the beef and cook, stirring until well browned all over. Add 3 cups of hot water, 1/2 tsp of salt, and the pepper. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until beef is almost tender about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
- Stir in carrots, potatoes, celery, green peppers, onions,1 1/2 tsp of salt, and bay leaf. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
- Make the parsley dumplings. [Cut butter into the flour, baking powder and salt until mixture resembles small crumbs. Stir in milk. This should make a very soft biscuit like dough. Stir in the parsley.]
- After making the parsley dumplings, thoroughly mix a 1/2 cup cold water with the 2 tsp of flour and stir into the stew. Heat to a boiling, stirring constantly for 1 minute then reduce heat to a simmer. Drop dumpling dough by the spoonful into simmering stew. There should be about 10 to 12 dumplings. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
joe says
Tuna Casserole should never be spoken of.
TammyRenea says
hahaha Then quit bringing it up!!! 😀
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I can see why you have been making this stew for years, Tammy, because it looks absolutely delicious! Beef stew is yummy on its own, but those parsley dumplings look seriously scrumptious and like the perfect accompaniment! This stew is perfect for all this nasty weather we have been getting in NC. Cheers, friend!
TammyRenea says
It’s a mood booster for sure!!! Hope you have a great weekend, my friend!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
What a sweet story Tammy! Those parsley dumplings sound absolutely delish and love them with the beef stew. It is still here cold so making this comfort dish ASAP 🙂
TammyRenea says
You won’t be sorry!!! and, Thank you very much. 😀
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
I’ve never tried dumplings with stew, but I bet they are so good in this dish! This stew sounds so much better than the version I grew up with, Lol.
TammyRenea says
haha I hear you! Yes, the dumplings are so yummy!!!