Beef Stew with Dumplings

To prepare a hearty beef stew, begin by heating oil in a substantial cooking vessel over an elevated heat setting until the oil is aglow. Introduce beef and onion into the pot, then sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of a savory steak seasoning blend. Thoroughly combine beef and onions, followed by an additional sprinkle of the remaining 1 teaspoon steak seasoning. Add celery; cook and stir until beef is nicely browned, approximately 10 minutes.

Next, pour in 2 cups of liquid to cover the beef and vegetables. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally to release the browned bits of meat from the bottom of the pot. Cover the vessel, lower the heat, and allow the stew to simmer until the beef is tenderly cooked, roughly 2 hours.

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

In a separate container, whisk together the contents of a gravy mix with 4 cups of water. Add this mixture to the juices in the pot, stirring to bring the gravy to a boil. Then, gently re-introduce the beef back into the gravy mixture.

Add carrots and turnip to the pot, cover, and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Subsequently, add potatoes to the pot, cover, and continue to simmer for an additional 20 minutes.

To prepare the dumplings, combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Utilize a pastry cutter or two knives to cut the shortening into the flour mixture, resulting in a crumbly texture. Gradually pour in milk and lightly stir the mixture just until it comes together to form a cohesive dough.

Remove 2 cups of gravy from the pot and reserve. Using a spoon, drop dumplings by heaping tablespoonfuls onto the beef and vegetables in the pot. Cover the vessel, then allow to simmer for 20 minutes (do not peek until the time is up).

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