Old-Fashioned Beef Stew
2 pounds stew beef
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups water
1tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1clove garlic, peeled
or 2 bay leaves
1medium onion, sliced
teaspoon salt
teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Dash ground allspice or ground
cloves
3 large carrots, sliced
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Brown meat in hot oil. Add water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay
leaves, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, and allspice. Cover and
simmer 1 1/2 hours. Remove bay leaves and garlic clove. Add carrots
and celery. Cover and cook 30 to 40 minutes longer. To thicken gravy,
remove 2 cups hot liquid. Using a separate bowl, combine 1/4 cup water
and cornstarch until smooth. Mix with a little hot liquid and return mixture
to pot. Stir and cook until bubbly.