Ingredients:
2 pounds of chuck beef,cubed for stew (I prefer grass fed and hormone/antibiotic- free is a must!)
2 tbs olive oil
salt and pepper
2 tbs of tomato paste
3/4 – 1 cup water or broth (chicken or beef) or red wine (or a combo of all)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 onion, rough diced
3-4 celery stalks, rough chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped into 1 inch pieces
1/2 pound of potatoes, about 2-3, chopped into 1 inch pieces
1 small sugar-pie pumpkin, peeled, de-seeded, and chopped into 1 inch pieces (substitute 1 large butternut squash if necessary)
4 cloves of garlic, roughly minced
4 sprigs of thyme and additional herbs, I chose 2 sage leaves (optional, dried herbs will work as well)
1 dried bay leaf