Old Time Beef Stew

Ingredients:

two pounds stew beef
two tablespoons vegetable oil
two cups water
one tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
one clove garlic, peeled
one or two bay leaves
one medium onion, sliced
one teaspoon salt
one teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Dash ground allspice or ground cloves
three large carrots, sliced
three ribs celery, chopped
two tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:

Brown meat in hot oil. Add water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaves, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, and allspice. Cover and simmer one 1/2 hours. Remove bay leaves and garlic clove. Add carrots and celery. Cover and cook 30 to 40 minutes longer. To thicken gravy, remove two cups hot liquid. Using a separate bowl, merge

1/4 cup water and cornstarch until smooth. Mix with a small hot liquid and return mixture to pot. Stir and cook until bubbly.

Per serving: Calories: 349; Total Overweight: twenty grams; Saturated Overweight: 6 grams; Protein: 31 grams; Total carbohydrates: ten grams; Sugar: four grams; Fiber: two grams; Cholesterol: 96 milligrams; Sodium: 574 milligrams