Beef Stew

 

Old style comfort foods, always a favorite in our house. This stew you will serve in soup bowls; dark brown beef and vegetables in lots of rich gravy.

What you will need:

1/3 Cup flour
1 Tsp salt
1 Tsp pepper

4-5 garlic cloves minced
2 pounds beef stew meat (with bones, if possible)
4 tb shortening
3 Beef bouillon cubes
1 tb lemon juice
1 tb Worcestershire sauce
1 large onion, slice
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp allspice
12 small carrots
12 small white onions (one large onion)
8 small new potatoes

a few mushrooms sliced(optional)

How to make it:

Mix the flour, salt and pepper (to taste) and roll the beef cubes in 
the mixture.  Shake off excess.  Melt the shortening over high heat 
in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot with cover.  When the fat is 
very hot, add the beef.  Add only enough so that it won't be
crowded and can brown on all sides.  When the last batch of meat is 
browned, return it all to the pot.  Pour on 6 cups of boiling water 
(stand back when you do, since this will sizzle and splatter a great 
deal).  Add the bouillon cubes.  Stir.  Add the lemon juice, 
Worcestershire sauce, 1 large onion, garlic, bay leaves and allspice.  Lower 
the heat and cover; simmer for 1 1\2 to 2 hours, or until the meat is 
tender.  Add the carrots, onions, and potatoes and cook until tender 
(about 20 to 25 minutes).

To thicken if not thick enough, take 3 heaping tsp corn starch and whisk into 

1/2 cup of water or more broth, slowly stir into stew and let it come back to temp, 

as it will thicken and serve.

Let cool 10-15 minutes if you can wait.