Today a Recipe

I wanted to post this a few days ago and I forgot. Now that Fall is here I'm being reminded of all our winter favorites. Number one on the list is meatloaf... ugh. But my number one is this stew I discovered I don't know where... I think an old Purity cookbook or something. I'm really not much of a cook but this is delicious!

Old Time Beef Stew

2 lbs stew beef cubed. I usually was buying a round steak instead cause the stew beef at Safeway was always too fatty and stringy. I got it last time at a different supermarket and it was delicious so you can do either. Also since we've changed to metric I just use some cause I can't figure it out. What looks about the amount I want.

2Tbsp shortening

1 tsp Worster sauce

1 onion sliced

1 or 2 Bay leaves

1 tsp salt (Optional - I leave it out cause I'm on a salt restricted diet and no one notices)

1Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp Paprike

Dash Allspice or Cloves

6 carrots, pared and sliced

4 potatoes

3 Tbsp flour

Brown meat in hot shortening... I also brown the onions at the same time.

Add 2 cups hot water and the next 9 ingredients. I also add a tsp Beef OXO or 1 beef cube, and because we like lots of gravy I increase the water to about 4 cups. I guess that's why I put the OXO in for more taste.

Simmer, covered, 1 1/2 hours stirring occasionally.

Remove Bay Leaves.

Add vegetables.

Cook covered 30-45 mins.

Blend 1/3c water w 3Tbsp flour. Stir slowly into hot stew.

Cook and stir until bubbly plus about 3 mins longer.

I don't stick to only carrots. I throw in whatever strikes my fancy... usually frozen green beans and corn, just to give it some colour.

I also find that I need to add more water (maybe a cup) when I put the vegetables in cause the simmering means there's less water than I put in to begin with.

Confused yet?

Just take the basics and put your own twist on it.