Basic Beef Stew - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 lb. stew meat
oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 celery rib, sliced
salt to taste
pepper to taste
Tabasco sauce to taste
3 bay leaves
Tony Chachere Original Creole seasoning to taste
2 c. carrots, sliced
1 c. celery, sliced
1 (14 oz.) can tomatoes with juice, cut up
5 medium potatoes, peeled and cut up

Preparation

In a large Dutch oven, brown stew meat in oil. Add next 7 items and enough water to cover and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add carrots and tomatoes. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add sliced celery and potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are tender. Thicken with cornstarch if desired. Remove bay leaves and serve.