Irish Stew

Cut the meat into large rough pieces and place in hot water in heavy pot. Add turnips and carrots, thick and roughly chopped. Place small whole onion in centre bottom of pot. This remains right through to end of cooking time and adds wonderfully to the flavour. Bring to boiling point, reduce heat and simmer very slowly for at least 2 hours. During this time add chopped onions and freshly chopped parsley and thyme. Add salt and pepper to taste at regular intervals. One hour before end of cooking or thereabouts place large potato chunks into stew and add cornflour mixed with milk to thicken. Add more thyme at this stage. When cooking is finished and vegetables are well cooked but not mushy remove onion from end of pot and discard. Serve stew on large soup dishes and eat with Irish home baked brown bread.