French Oven Stew
["2 1/2 lb. beef stew meat (1 inch chunks)", "12 oz. small white onions", "4 large carrots, quartered crosswise", "6 oz. small fresh mushrooms", "4 large ribs celery, cut in 1 inch pieces", "1 1/2 c. tomato juice", "1/4 c. quick-cooking tapioca", "1 Tbsp. sugar", "2 tsp. salt", "2 small bay leaves", "1 tsp. dry basil", "1/4 tsp. pepper", "1/2 c. dry red wine or water"]
["Heat", "oven", "to\t300\u00b0.", "Mix all ingredients in a heavy 3 quart ovenproof", "saucepot.", "Cover and bake, stirring 3 times, for", "3 hours", "or", "until", "meat", "is\ttender and sauce thickens. Discard bay", "leaves before serving or storing.", "Makes 8 servings.", "In", "you like,", "add", "a", "cup of frozen green peas or cut green beans 20 minutes before stew is done."]
["beef stew meat", "white onions", "carrots", "mushrooms", "celery", "tomato juice", "quick-cooking tapioca", "sugar", "salt", "bay leaves", "basil", "pepper", "red wine"]