Beef Stew

Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 1/2-2 lbs stewing beef, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 6 small onions, peeled
• 6 medium carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
• 3 -4 parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks (optional)
• 1 cup frozen peas or 1 cup mixed vegetables (optional)
• 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce (optional)
• 2 bay leaves
• water, to cover
• 6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

Recipe

• 1 dust beef cubes in flour, salt and pepper in a paper or plastic bag.
• 2 shake off excess.
• 3 heat oil in a heavy dutch oven or frying pan on high until the surface of the oil starts to shimmer, but before it starts to smoke.
• 4 depending on the size of the pan, brown the beef evenly on high in batches.
• 5 don't crowd the cubes.
• 6 keep an eye on this so that it doesn't burn.
• 7 you just want to sear the beef.
• 8 remove the pan from the burner and add the onions, carrots, bay leaves, worcestershire sauce (if you're going to use it) and enough water to almost cover everything.
• 9 return to burner and bring to a boil.
• 10 cover and reduce heat to medium low--just hot enough to keep a slow simmer going.
• 11 simmer for about an hour or until everything is almost done.
• 12 put in the potatoes at this point and any additional water you think the stew needs.
• 13 continue to simmer for another half hour or until the potatoes are just done.
• 14 just prior to serving, check for seasonings and add more salt and pepper, more worcestershire, if needed.
• 15 toss in the peas or mixed vegetables and cook for five minutes.