Stewed Beef in Coconut milk

Ingredients

 * 6 leaves of (local) bay leaf
 * 3 lbs tender beef, cut up
 * 6 leaves broadleaf thyme (called Spanish thyme in Trinidad); can be substituted with other thyme
 * 1-2 cups coconut milk
 * salt, pepper, to taste
 * garlic, to taste
 * onion, to taste
 * chives, to taste
 * oil and a little brown sugar to brown Beef with

Directions

 * 1) Brown beef in oil (in a heavy iron pot, heat about 4 tablesps. of oil, add brown sugar and fry until sugar has become a brown syrup, then add beef)
 * 2) Add coconut milk, bay leaf, thyme and seasoning and cook on a slow fire until tender (may take 1½ – 2 hours)