Apple Cider Stew

My friend Karen Kolb made this for us when we brought Emily home from the hospital. I made it when Mom, Dad & Leslee came to visit a couple weeks later and it’s been a family favorite ever since.

2 pounds beef stew meat

Cut beef into cubes. Heat 3 T. oil in a Dutch oven, or stewpot. Sauté beef till brown on all sides. Season with salt and pepper.

Add:

3 T. flour, cook for a minute or two, until the flour is slightly browned.

1 tsp. thyme

4 potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size pieces

2 onions, cut into small chunks

4 carrots, peeled and sliced

Stir in:

3-4 cups apple cider

1/2 cup water

3 T. cider vinegar

2 celery stalks, sliced thin

Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered with the top ajar for 2 hours or more, until meat is tender. *About an hour before serving, add celery stalks.

*You can also cook this all day in a crock pot.