Meatball vegetable stew

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground meat
• 1 egg
• ½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 4 cups potatoes, peeled and finely cubed
• 3 cups carrots, cut up
• 2 cups celery, diced
• 3 cups onion, diced
• ¾ tsp black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp thyme
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup canned or frozen peas