Sarah's Beef Stew

This is seriously easy comfort food.  Sarah is my best friend and one of my favorite cooks.  I can always count on her for a great recipe, and this one always fits the bill when I need something hot, wholesome, hearty, and homemade.  Perfect for a cold winter eve and equally justified on a cool and rainy spring afternoon.  I always ask Sarah what to eat.  I have asked her for this recipe over and over.  I originally thought beef stew was not an easy thing to make, but it is easy, and so good.  Oh, and Sarah would say, only use Campbell's.  She's right.  Trust me, I tried a cheaper route.  Not the same.



Sarah's Beef Stew
Turn the oven on to 300.
In a 3 qt. casserole dish combine the following:
1 pkg. stew meat
1 can Campbell's condensed tomato soup
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 small whole potatoes
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried basil

 Put 1 pkg. of beef stew meat, or beef brisket cut up into chunks, into the casserole dish.  Spread out evenly and sprinkle with the salt, pepper and basil.
Put the chopped vegetables on top of the seasoned meat.  put the potatoes in whole.
Put tomato soup in a 2 cup measuring cup.  Add water to fill to the 2 cup line.  Blend well.

Pour the soup mixture over the meat & vegetables.  Cover with foil. 
Bake at 300 for 3 hours.
After 3 hours, chop the potatoes and press them down in to the stew and bake for an additional 30-40 minutes.