Barkin' Beef Stew

Makes 8 servings

I think of beef stew as the king of stews. I remember walking into my great-grandmother's New York City apartment as a little girl with its wonderful smell of something always cooking on the stove. Three dishes come to mind when I think of my great-grandmother: her beef stew, her chicken and apple soup, and her baked French toast, which was to die for.

Here's my tribute to my great-grandmother: Barkin' Beef Stew. May your house always have a wonderful, cozy, home-cooked fragrance for you and your dogs to enjoy. I know that this recipe is a tail-wagging delight. It can be refrigerated for 4 days or frozen for 3 months in an airtight container.

4 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds sirloin steak, cubed
2 cups cubed baby red potatoes 1 cup chopped carrots
4 cups beef broth
1 cup peas
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup corn
1 cup chopped green beans
1/4 cup chopped zucchini
1 cup canned diced tomatoes
1/2 cup cooked baby elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, or 1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons warm water

1. In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the steak and brown well on all sides.

2. Add the potatoes, carrots, and broth. Bring to a boil, cover, turn down the heat, and simmer until the potatoes
    are fork-tender, about 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Add the peas, celery, corn, green beans, zucchini, tomatoes, macaroni, salt, and parsley. Cover and simmer for
    20 to 30 minutes.

4. Check to make sure that the meat is cooked through. When it is, turn up the heat to medium and slowly stir in
    the cornstarch mixture to thicken the stew.

5. Once the stew has thickened, remove from heat. Let cool and serve.

Dr. Kevin Says

Allergies in dogs are usually triggered by protein sources (beef, chicken, soy, and so on), and less often by carbohydrate sources (such as wheat or corn). If your dog is allergic to beef or chicken, try using a protein source that your dog has never eaten before. Salmon, venison, and duck are good examples of less popular proteins.