French Beef Stew - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs cubed beef stew meat
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes
1 (14 ounce) can beef broth (low\"er\" sodium if possible)
4 large carrots, chopped
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
salt and pepper

Preparation

Combine meat and flour in a large plastic food storage bag and toss to coat evenly.
In a 6-quart saucepan or stockpot, brown meat in hot vegetable oil.
Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Add diced tomatoes, beef broth, carrots, potatoes and thyme.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 1- 1 1/2 hours, until beef is tender.
Blend in mustard and serve.
If you like a thicker stew, mix 3 or 4 tablespoons of flour with some water and add to the pot.
Heat and stir for a few minutes more, until thickened.