Columbian Beef and Sweet Potato Stew

Ingredients

 * 1 lb cut-up stew meat
 * ½ teaspoon salt
 * ¼ teaspoon pepper
 * 1½ teaspoons olive oil or vegetable oil
 * 3 cups peeled sweet potatoes
 * 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
 * 1 dry bay leaf
 * 1 cinnamon stick
 * 1 large onion, cut into eighths
 * 1 can Italian-style tomatoes, with juices
 * 8 dried apricots, cut in half
 * chopped fresh parsley

Directions

 * 1) Remove excess fat from beef.
 * 2) Cut beef into pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
 * 3) Cook beef in oil about 5 minutes, stirring.
 * 4) Mix beef and remaining ingredients except apricots and parsley.
 * 5) Cover and cook on low 8 hours.
 * 6) Stir in apricots.
 * 7) Cover and cook about 15 minutes.
 * 8) Discard bay leaf and cinnamon stick.
 * 9) Sprinkle stew with parsley.