Lola's Oven Beef Stew

Name: Lola's Oven Beef Stew
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 h
Total time: 5 h 15 min
Yield: 12 serving(s)
Ingredients: 3 lbs chuck roast or 3 lbs seven-bone roast, cut into pieces; 8 onions, quartered; 8 -10 carrots, cut into chunks; 2 -3 stalks celery, cut into chunks; 1 (1 1/4 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix; 1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, diluted; 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes; 2 teaspoons dried basil; 8 tablespoons uncooked tapioca (yes, 8 tablespoons!); 1 cup sherry wine or 1 cup red wine; salt; pepper