Making Old Fashioned Beef Stew is simple when you follow these steps:

1. Prepare the Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and chop vegetables into uniform pieces for even cooking.
2. Brown the Beef: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef cubes, seasoning them with salt and pepper. Brown the beef on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside.
3. Sauté the Aromatics: In the same pot, add the diced onion and minced garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.
4. Add the Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste, cooking for another 2 minutes to deepen its flavor.
5. Deglaze the Pot: Pour in 1 cup of beef broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits. This adds richness to your stew.
6. Combine Ingredients: Return the browned beef to the pot along with the remaining beef broth, carrots, potatoes, thyme, and bay leaf. Stir gently to combine.
7. Simmer: Bring the stew to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally and check if more liquid is needed.
8. Final Seasoning: Remove the bay leaf and taste the stew. Adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
9. Serve: Ladle the stew into bowls, garnishing with chopped fresh parsley.

These simple steps will guide you to an amazing bowl of Old Fashioned Beef Stew that everyone will enjoy.