Comfort Food for a Cold Night

Whether you’re preparing for “Snowpocalypse” or you’re just hunkering down against the chill, here’s a hearty stew recipe inspired by Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. It’s just what the doctor ordered when frigid winds begin to howl.

Beef Stew with Dumplings

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of lean beef (cheaper cuts)
• Flour
• 2 tablespoons of dripping
• 1 quart of boiling water
• 1 small onion
• Pepper
• Salt

Dumplings

• 1 pint of flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Milk

Instructions

Cut the beef into pieces about 1 inch square, dredge with flour. Put the dripping into a frying pan; as soon as it is very hot put in the meat and shake or stir until nicely browned. Skim out the meat and put it in a saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon of flour to the dripping remaining in the pan, mix and add the boiling water; stir over the fire until it boils, then strain it over the meat; add the onion, pepper and salt to taste. Cover the saucepan closely and let it simmer for 2 hours.

Dumplings

Sift the flour, to which has been added the baking powder. Add the salt and enough milk to make a soft dough. Lift the dough in spoonfuls [sic], placing them over the meat, cover quickly and let boil 10 minutes. Do not uncover the saucepan while the dumplings are cooking or they will fall immediately. Be careful not to allow the stew to burn while the dumplings are cooking.

Sign of the Times: Though they weren’t aware of how germs were transmitted or why this remedy worked, Civil War medics found that garlic was an effective antiseptic.

Source: Public School Domestic Science (1898), Vintagerecipes.net