Best Ever Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds beef stew meat
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 bay leaves
• ¼ 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:

1. Place the beef stew meat in a resealable plastic bag with the flour and seasoning salt. Shake the bag until the meat is evenly coated.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add the floured stew meat to the hot skillet and brown it on all sides. Once browned, remove the meat using a slotted spoon or tongs and place it into the bottom of a slow cooker. Season with black pepper.
3. Saute the diced onion in the same hot skillet for about 2 minutes, utilizing the residual flavors left from browning the meat. Transfer the sauteed onions into the slow cooker.
4. Pour Worcestershire sauce, water, and beef demi-glace (or Swanson Flavor Boost) into the skillet. Whisk the mixture to combine, ensuring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat and set the skillet aside.
5. Add the diced potatoes, carrots, celery, and bay leaves into the slow cooker. Pour the broth and Worcestershire mixture from the skillet into the crockpot.
6. Cover and cook on low for approximately 8 hours.
7. Before serving, remember to remove the bay leaves.

Enjoy your flavorful and tender slow cooker beef stew!