Best Ever Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds beef stew meat
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 bay leaves
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups water
• 2 heaping teaspoons 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 celery, diced

Directions:

1. Coat the Meat: Place the beef stew meat in a resealable plastic bag with the flour and seasoning salt. Shake the bag until the meat is evenly coated.
2. Brown the Meat: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the floured stew meat to the pan and brown on all sides. Remove the browned meat using a slotted spoon or tongs and place it into the bottom of a slow cooker. Season with black pepper.
3. Sauté the Onion: In the same skillet, sauté the diced onion for about 2 minutes. Do not clean the skillet beforehand; the residue adds extra flavor. Transfer the onions to the slow cooker.
4. Prepare the Broth: In the skillet, pour in the Worcestershire sauce, water, and beef demi-glace (or Swanson Flavor Boost). Whisk the mixture, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat and set the mixture aside.
5. Add Vegetables: Place the diced potatoes, carrots, celery, and bay leaves into the slow cooker. Pour the broth mixture over the vegetables and meat.
6. Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
7. Serve: Remove the bay leaves before serving. Enjoy your best ever beef stew!