Excellent Oven Stew - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. crushed tomatoes
1/2 c. beef broth
1 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
4 large ribs celery, sliced
3 lb. cubed lean boneless beef chuck
2/3 c. water
1/4 c. quick cooking tapioca
2 tsp. dried fines herbes
2 small bay leaves
1 lb. carrots, sliced
3 medium onions, sliced

Preparation

Mix all ingredients in a heavy 5 to 6-quart Dutch oven.
Cover and bake about 3 hours, stirring twice until meat is tender and sauce thickened.
Discard bay leaves before serving or refrigerating.
You can pretty much ignore this stew for the 3 hours, but remember that it will taste best if you make it a day or two ahead.
Refrigerate and reheat on stovetop.
You can throw in a 12 ounce can of mushrooms and 10 ounce package of frozen peas and simmer 10 minutes more.