Beef Stew

Add soup ingredients in layers. In a microwavable container, put in cubed potatoes and carrots and microwave for 5 minutes. Add celery and heat for 2 minutes. Add onion, beef, and top with spaghetti sauce. Make sure there is enough liquid in container to promote proper steaming of ingredients. Cook in the microwave at 30% for 1 hour. Test with a fork for tenderness. Reheat if necessary.

In a small cup, add liquid from beef stew and mix with one or two tablespoons of cornstarch. Add mixture to stew and stir until thick. If it is still too thin, heat in the microwave for another two minutes. If still more thickening is needed, add another tablespoon of cornstarch to a cup of liquid. Do not add cornstarch directly to stew, this will create clumps that wont blend well.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and parsley in a bowl. Using a pastry blender, add shortening and mix. Add 3/4 cup of milk and mix with a spatula until mixture sticks together. Add more milk if mixture is too dry. Spoon lumps of dough onto the top of the stew allowing them to touch each other. Heat in the microwave for 20 minutes to steam the dumplings.