4 c. sliced okra, fresh, frozen or canned
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 (4 oz.) can tomato paste
3 tbsp. vegetable oil for meat
2 tbsp. vegetable oil for garlic
8 buds garlic, chopped
1 lb. beef stew, trimmed well of fat
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt or to taste

Brown beef stew in 3 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add salt, red pepper, black pepper. Then add 1 1/2 cups water and let meat stew on medium heat until tender. Add tomato sauce and tomato paste to meat and broth, blend well. Then add okra, bring to boil, turn heat down to medium low and simmer for approximately 25 minutes or until tender. Prepare chopped garlic and add to oil in skillet. Saute garlic until lightly browned. Add garlic and oil to okra-beef mixture and simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Mixture should have thickened slightly to become a sauce. Serve over a bed of rice.