🥩 Classic Homestyle Beef Stew 🥕

📢 A hearty meal that brings the warmth of home to your table, perfect for cozy family dinners!

🍽️ Ingredients 🍽️
- 🥕 2 cups carrots, sliced
- 🧂 Salt and pepper, to taste
- 🥔 2 cups potatoes, diced
- 🧄 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 🥄 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 🥩 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 🧅 1 medium onion, chopped
- 🍅 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 🌿 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 🌿 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 🍃 1 bay leaf
- 🍲 4 cups beef broth
- 🥒 2 cups celery, sliced
- 🌾 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (optional, for thickening)
- 🌿 Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

🧑‍🍳 Directions 🧑‍🍳
1. Season the beef cubes with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches, ensuring each piece is seared on all sides. Set aside.
3. In the same pot, sauté the chopped onion until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in tomato paste to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
5. Return the beef to the pot. Add beef broth, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf, and bring to a simmer.
6. Add carrots, potatoes, and celery. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the beef and vegetables are tender.
7. For a thicker stew, mix flour with a bit of cold water to form a slurry and stir into the stew during the last 15 minutes of cooking. Allow it to simmer until thickened.
8. Remove the bay leaf, adjust seasoning if necessary, and serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.

🍎 Nutritional Information 🍎
- Calories: 350 per serving
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sodium: 300mg

💡 Tips and Tricks 💡
- Consider using a slow cooker for convenience. Brown the beef and sauté the vegetables as directed, then transfer to a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Add peas or green beans in the last 30 minutes of cooking for extra color and nutrients.

⏳ Preparation time: 20 minutes | Cooking time: 120 minutes | Serving: 6