Dutch oven cooked beef stew

I've been playing with this recipe for awhile and this is the best I've come with so far.

Ingredients

2.5 pounds stew beef
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
40oz Beef broth about
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
7oz small can of tomato paste
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 or 2 bay leaves
1 medium onion, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
3 large carrots, sliced
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 tablespoons cornstarch


Directions

Brown meat . heat oven to 350 in a large dutch oven Add broth, Worcestershire , garlic, bay leaves, onion, pepper, paprika . Add carrots and celery. cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until beef is tender. To thicken gravy, remove 2 cups hot liquid. Using a separate bowl, combine 1/4 cup water and cornstarch until smooth. Mix with a little hot liquid and return mixture to pot. Stir and cook until bubbly. Add tomato paste 1/2 way through cooking time. salt to taste

Some sherry might be good added 1/2 way through

It really needs a big hunk of sourdough bread for dipping.

YUM