5 large onions,peeled and sliced
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 pounds of lean beef, cut into bite size pieces
5 carrots, peeled and sliced
5 stalks of celery, sliced
2 cups hot beef broth
5 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
flour
salt and pepper to taste
water
Brown the onions slowly in  butter until very brown.  Remove
from frying pan to soup kettle or Dutch oven.  Roll beef pieces in
flour and pepper and brown quickly in butter in frying pan and
add to the onions. Add a little water to frying pan to absorb the
browned flour and add that to the meat.  Add carrots, celery, beef
broth and bay leaves to the kettle.  Simmer about 1 hour.  Add
potatoes and continue simmering until done.  This may be thickened 
with flour if desired.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Remove bay
leaves.