Apple Cider Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups apple cider 
• 0.3 cup apple cider vinegar 
• 1 large bay leaf 
• 2 pounds beef stew meat cubed
• 4  carrots sliced
• 2  celery stalks chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon thyme leaves dried
• 3 tablespoons flour all-purpose
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper black
• 1 large mcintosh apples sliced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2  onions diced
• 3  potatoes cubed
• 2 teaspoons salt 
• 0.8 cup water 

Equipment

• bowl
• pot
• dutch oven

Directions

1. Combine flour, salt, pepper, and thyme in a bowl. Toss beef cubes in the flour mixture.
2. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown beef cubes on all sides.
3. Combine browned meat, apple cider, water, and cider vinegar in the pot and bring it to a boil.
4. Add bay leaf; reduce heat to low. Simmer, partially covered, for 1 hour.
5. Stir in carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, and apple and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 1 hour more.