stew/casserole type dish help pls

[littleducks]

i have dumpling mixture and need something to put dumplings on but have lost the recipe

i have tinned tomatoes
veg stock
carrots
swede
tinned chickpeas
oninon
peppers

and poos other stuff what do i do, do i use both tinned tomatoes and stock or just one?
i have no fresh herbs any spices i could use?

Are you putting meat in it?

Don't put any poos in it.

If you have meat (eg. stewing steak, diced pork/lamb) brown it with 1-2 tablespoons oil in a big casserole, then set meat aside. Chop your veg and cook them gently in the same casserole (add a bit more oil if necessary)for about 10 mins. If you're using meat, return it to the casserole and sprinkle over 1-2 tablespoons flour, grind over some salt and pepper, mix well, then add 1-2 tins tomatoes, and I would also add some stock - so you have enough liquid to cover the other ingredients.

I don't know when you should add the dumplings, but if I was cooking the stew on its own, I would bring it to a gentle boil on the hob, then cover and cook in oven at about Gas Mark 3 (sorry - don't do celsius) for a couple of hours. Hope that makes sense.

and perhaps ......poos, no poos????

no meat no

also leek and celery

Yup, poos not necessary - or desirable really.

Onion, carrot, tinned tomatoes, chickpeas, veg stock yes. Chuck in some potatoes if you have them too, and/or a bit of swede but as carrots swede and spuds are all root veg, don't add to much of any in case you end up with mash! I would go easy on the peppers, in my opinion at least I don't think they add to a stew very much.

Got any garlic? Any dried herbs? hmm, cinnamon or mixed spice can be nice in savoury things, if you have nothing else. Or even chuck in some marmite/bovril/gravy mix (add slowly and taste regularly!)

I would usually bring the stew ingredients to the boil then simmer for an hour before chucking the dumplings in on top for half an hour.

Yeah leeks and celery good too, chuck it all in (although i would fry the leeks gently for a while with the onions, myself)