CROCK POT- BEEF STEW WITH RED WINE AND HERB DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Preparation:.
• Combine the beef, carrots, onions, tomatoes, thyme, pepper, mustard, mushrooms, and wine or beef broth.
• If you are using wine, use all the salt.
• If you are using beef broth you might not need it depending on the saltiness of the broth so taste it to see.
• Cover and cook on a low heat for 8 to 10 hours or a high heat for 4 or 5 hours.
• The vegetables and beef will become tender.
• Combine the flour and water and stir this slowly into the beef stew.
• For Herb Dumplings.
• Combine flour, baking powder, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives and salt in a bowl.
• Cut in butter that's been kept at room temperature or use soft margarine.
• Stir milk lightly into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon and adjust amounts to make sure that you have a moist dumpling dough.
• Drop spoonfuls of the dough on to the hot beef stew, then cover allow to cook on high for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the herb dumplings comes out clean.
• Do not overcook dumplings. Dumplings may disintegrate if left to cook too long.