Beef Stew with Dumplings and using beer

By bunny

About the beers:
My top 3 are 3rd guiness, 2nd Mathers Black beer and 1st by a mile THEAKSTONS OLD PECULIAR, which is not too sweet and gives a fantasticly rich flavour unlike any other I have tried.

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ lb (500g) beef, cubed
• 3 tbsp all-purpose (plain) flour
• 2 onions, medium - sliced
• ½ pint (300ml) beer (ale)
• 2 tsp prepared mustard (paste)
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• salt and pepper
• Dumplings
• 3 oz (85g) self-raising flour
• 1 oz (25g) butter
• 1 tsp dried herbs
• pinch salt and pepper
• 2 fl oz (50 ml) milk

Preparation

Step 1

1 Put the flour in a plastic bag and add the beef. Toss around until coated.
2 You could now brown the meat if you desire - however we did not have time.
3 Put the beef and onion in the crock pot.
4 Mix the other ingredients together and pour over the beef.
5 Cook on low for 8-10 hours
6 Sometime during this period make the dumplings.
7 Combine all the ingredients, with sufficient milk (may need slightly more or less) to make a soft dough.
8 Shape into four to six balls.
9 About 40 minutes prior to serving, put the dumplings in the crock pot.
10 Turn on high, replace lid. And enjoy in 30-40 minutes.