Homemade Beef Stew

When it's a rainy cold day nothing sounds better than a nice warm soup.  But soup isn't always filling by itself, however this Homemade Beef Stew will fill you up and dazzle your taste buds at the same time!  It's pretty simple and easy to make.
In a large pot put a little bit of olive oil (about 2 T or so)
place your cubes of beef- I just cut up a roast that I had got on sale.

Cook until the beef is browned.  Remember if it gets a little caramelazation (I know that's a word but neither my spell checker or I know how it's spelled haha) it will add an amazing flavor.

Once the beef is browned add in:
1 cup of chopped celery - chop it into BIG chunks
1 onion cut up
2-3 T butter
2 T minced garlic

Cook a little bit with the meat then add:
1/4 c. flour
mix with in well then add:

6-8 potatoes depending on the size or how much you like potatoes- cut up into big chunks (remember this is stew it's supposed to have big chunks of ingredients)
1 bag of baby carrots
1 small can of tomato paste
Fill the pot with beef stock- or you can do the easy way like I did and add 2-3 T of beef bullion and then fill the pan with water.

That's it! Cook until the potatoes and carrots are cooked.  Stir it occasionally.
If you want it to take longer to cook set it on low, if you want it sooner cook it on high.  You could even cook it in your crock pot if you want.

I was going to add peas in the last few minutes but forgot- next time!

My family LOVED it- even my husband who hates soups said it was really good.  And as with any soup/stew it's a easy meal to stretch and feed lots of people- or for multiple meals.

*You could also put all the ingredients (minus water and flour) with the meat raw, into a freezer ziploc bag for a easy crock pot freezer meal.