Best Ever Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of beef stew meat
• ½ cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon of seasoning salt
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 2 bay leaves
• ¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups of water
• 2 heaping teaspoons of beef demi-glace (or beef Swanson Flavor Boost)
• 4 medium to large red-skinned potatoes, washed and diced
• 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 stalk of celery, diced

Directions:

1. In a resealable plastic bag, combine the beef stew meat, flour, and seasoning salt. Shake until the meat is evenly coated.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the floured stew meat and brown on all sides. Use a slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the meat to the bottom of a slow cooker. Season with black pepper.
3. In the same skillet, sauté the diced onion for about 2 minutes, using the remaining oil and any browned bits for added flavor. Transfer the onions to the slow cooker.
4. Pour Worcestershire sauce, water, and beef demi-glace (or Swanson Flavor Boost) into the skillet. Whisk until well combined, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat and set aside.
5. Add diced potatoes, carrots, celery, and bay leaves to the slow cooker. Pour the broth mixture from the skillet into the slow cooker.
6. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
7. Before serving, remove the bay leaves. Enjoy your flavorful beef stew!