Columbian Beef and Sweet Potato Stew

Ingredients

• cut-up stew meat
  1 lb
• salt
  ½ teaspoon
• pepper
  ¼ teaspoon
• olive oil or vegetable oil
  1½ teaspoons
• peeled sweet potatoes
  3 cups
• finely chopped garlic
  2 teaspoons
• dry bay leaf
  1 unit
• cinnamon stick
  1 unit
• onion

  cut into eighths
  1 large
• Italian-style tomatoes

  with juices
  1 can
• dried apricots

  cut in half
  8 unit
• chopped fresh parsley
  1 unit