Friendly Oven Stew - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 lbs stewing beef, cubed
1 cup celery, coarsely chopped
1 cup onion, coarsely chopped
1 cup potato, coarsely chopped
1 cup carrot, coarsely chopped
2 cups tomato juice
2 tablespoons minute tapioca
salt and pepper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325*. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray (for ease of cleaning up). Put the meat in the bottom of the casserole.
Add the chopped vegetables. Now is the time to add any & how much of any vegetable you want (I like rutabaga - but no more than 1 cup as it's a stronger-flavoured veg).
Sprinkle with tapioca, salt and pepper.
Pour in tomato juice & cover tightly with foil before placing casserole lid on.
Bake @ 325* for at least 3 1/2 hours (I've gone to 4 hours successfully).
Remember not to peek during cooking time (until the end of course!).