Pre-heat the oven to 1upC/325F/Gas 3.

Season the flour and use to coat the meat. Heat the lard in an ovenproof casserole. Add the meat and cook until browned. Remove with a slottet spoon.

Add the onion, carrots,leek and celery and cook for 7m until lightlg browned. Stir in the remaining flour. Add the stout and stock, stirring well. Bring to the noil. Stir in the tomato puree, meat, musbrooms and bay leaf and cook for 2hours until tender.

To make dumplings sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Stir in the suet and sage. Add enough stock to form a smooth dough. Divide the douhh inyo twelve and lightly roll inyo balls. Add to the stew 15 minutes befor the end of the cooking time. Cover and cook until the dumplings are risen.