Best Ever Beef Stew Ingredients: 2 pounds beef stew meat 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1 tablespoon seasoning salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 large onion, diced 2 bay leaves 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 2 cups water 2 heaping teaspoons beef demi-glace (or beef Swanson Flavor Boost) 4 medium to large red skinned potatoes, washed & diced 3 large carrots, peeled & sliced 1 stalk celery, diced

Directions:
Shake the beef stew meat in a resealable plastic bag with the flour & seasoning salt until evenly coated. Heat the olive oil in a skillet; add the floured stew meat to the pan & brown on all sides. Remove using a slotted spoon or tongs & place into the bottom of a slow cooker. Season with pepper.

Saute the diced onion in the same hot skillet for 2 minutes. Don't worry about cleaning it out in between - that's added flavor! Transfer the onions into the slow cooker as well. Pour in the Worcestershire sauce, water, & beef demi glace (or Swanson Flavor Boost) and whisk until mixed, making sure you scrape up any browned bits in the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat & set aside.

Add the diced potatoes, carrots, celery, & bay leaves to the slowcooker. Now, pour the broth/Worcestershire mixture in the crockpot as well. Cover; cook on low for 8 hours. Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Notes:
I use beef demi-glace in this recipe, which you can find online at the link below, if you aren’t sure if your local store has it. The demi glace adds so much flavor to the stew; one that your traditional beef broth or stock really can’t beat. However; if you don’t want to buy demi-glace and don’t have any on hand – you can substitute some Swanson Flavor Boost (located with the broths & stocks in the grocery store).