Wonderful Beef Stew 
1-2 pounds beef stew meat 
1 tablespoon oil 
1 tablespoon tomato paste 
1 medium onion, cut into pieces 
2 large carrots, cut into bite sized pieces 
1 stalk celery, cut into pieces
4 medium potatoes, but into bite sized pieces 
salt and pepper to taste 
2-3 drops Tabasco sauce 
water to cover 
2 tablespoons cornstarch, with enough water to dissolve 
1 tablespoon dried parsley, optional 
Brown meat in oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven until brown 
and juice has cooked away. Stir in tomato paste until meat is covered,
 keeping heat on medium-high. Add vegetables, salt and pepper to taste 
and Tabasco sauce. Add enough water to just cover the meat and vegetables.
 Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 hours. Thicken with cornstarch and 
enough water to dissolve cornstarch. Add parsley is desired.