5 Hour Stew (Squirrelly Cakes)

2 lbs. ( I use 3 or 4) stewing beef or round steak
1 - 1 1/2 cups onions
4 stalks of celery, chopped
3 tbsp. white granulated sugar
3 tbsp. of minute tapioca
1 tbsp. salt (yes, tablespoon)
freshly ground pepper
2 cups of tomato juice
layers of : Carrots, sliced or quartered
Potatoes - cut into eighths
I also add a layer of cabbage cut into small wedges
Sweetpotatoes - if I have some
Turnip - diced or in wedges
Fresh green or yellow beans
Whatever veggies you like

Layer in the order the ingredients are given in and place in a large roast pan or a huge casserole dish and cook covered at 250F for 5 hours. If you have made a really huge batch, turn the oven to 300F and it could take 6-7 hours for, say a turkey sized roasting pan full. For that large an amount, increase your tomato juice by one additional cup and increase the tapioca by 1 tbsp. too. Sometimes I add about 1/2 cup red wine for a different taste.  

Posted by Squirrelly Cakes