Here’s a hearty, healthy, and yummy beef stew recipe. Makes a lot, and it tastes even better on the second day!

• A pack or two of tender beef chuck steak
• Baking potatoes, peeled and cubed (2 for two people, 4 for 4, etc)
• 1 large yellow onion, quartered
• 1 leek, chopped
• 2 stalks of celery, coarsely chopped
• 5 large carrots, coarsely chopped
• Handful of white button mushrooms, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tbs dried thyme
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
• Enough beef broth to cover vegetables (about three inches from rim of pot)

Chop steak into bite-sized pieces. If desired, roll in flour and spices. Add oil to large stock pot and begin to simmer. Drop steak into pot and brown slightly. Liberally salt and pepper and add minced garlic, stirring well.

Now slide in onion, leek, and celery, adding more oil if needed (if steak begins to burn). Stir in well and let flavors combine. When onions start to turn clear, add the thyme.

Pour in half the broth then add potatoes, mushrooms, and carrots. Finally pour in the rest of the broth. Bring to a boil and then let simmer for two hours.