Crock Pot Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 1 pound beef stew meat (100% organic, grass-fed, and humanely raised! or vegetarian meat alternative)
• 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (peeled and cut into 1″ cubes)
• 2 teaspoons Beef-flavored “Better Than Bouillon (” reconstituted in 2 cups of boiling water)
• 1 14.5- ounce can tomato sauce
• 3 celery ribs (chopped)
• 2 carrots (peeled and chopped)
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 3 dried bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• lots of fresh ground pepper (less if you’re not a pepper fan)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup fresh green beans (trimmed and halved, or frozen cut green beans)
• salt and pepper