Beef stew for my sickos

Back when I was student teaching, which was um....quite awhile ago, my supervising teacher told me that beef stew was the cure all for colds etc.   Her beef stew was similar to my moms with one magical ingredient.   She put whole mushrooms in hers.   She called the shrooms nice surprises and so happily yummy it has to cure you.   So.....here is how I make it.

(Mine serves twentyish or more)

Beef stew

Three pounds cut up beef (venison works too)
1/2 cup flour
oil to cover the bottom of the stew pot
one large onion cut in small pieces
eight stalks of celery or one or two leeks.
As many carrots as you can bear to peel cut up in smallish pieces
Six to eight potatoes cut up
2 or 3 bay leaves
A can or two of beef broth, beef bone broth or bouillon cubes
Eight cups boiling water
Two quarts whole tomatoes


Simple instructions.   Dump flour in a smallish bowl and dump beef into flour and stir to cover.
You can add salt and pepper to the flour mix too if you wish or can remember.  

Saute onion nad celery/leeks in a large stock pot in oil.   Add beef and brown.   At the same time boil six to eight cups of water depending on your quantity of beef.    When beef is browned, pour boiling water over top.    Next add the rest of the vegetables.   I often times start peeling and chopping in between other afternoon responsibilities.   Home made whole tomatoes are the best and to me make the recipe, but store bought work.   Add store bought tomatoes first so they have time to cook and fall apart.   The longer it simmers, the better it is.