Recipe for cooking old fashioned beef stew

Soups for Salads :: Stews

Old Fashioned Beef Stew

1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 lb. beef stew meat (1-in. pieces)
2 Tbsp. shortening
2 qt. hot water
3 pared med. potatoes (1-in. cubes)
4 carrots, cut into 1-in. pieces
1 C. sliced celery (1-in. size)
1 med. onion, diced
1 Tbsp. salt
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 bay leaf (optional)

Mix flour, salt and pepper. Coat meat with flour mixture.

Melt shortening in lrg. skillet or 6-qt. saucepan; brown meat thoroughly. Add water; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 2 hr..

Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer 30 min. or until vegetables are tender.

If desired, thicken stew. In covered sm. jar, shake 1 C. cold water and 4 Tbsp. flour until blended. Stir into stew; heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 min.

Makes approximately 6 servings.

To serve more people, just add more vegetables to the stew.