Beef Stew

Beef Stew is one of those recipes that depends on how you were reared...if you are of Italian descent, your family stew recipe probably contains tomatoes and tomato paste.  Each nationality has it's own version of stew and there are variations culturally.  This stew recipe is from my mother-in-law, Elizabeth Marshall.

Do this in a crock pot. 

Ingredients:

2 lb. of chuck, cut into cubes and dredged in flour

2 stalks of celery, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 potatoes, peeled and chopped

64 oz. of beef stock

1/2 can of tomato paste

1 bay leaf

In a small saute pan, brown chuck pieces slowly with 1 tbl. of extra virgin olive oil and 1 tbl. of butter.  Remove from pan and put in bottom of crock pot.  Add all remaining ingredients.  Remove bay leaf before serving.