Chestnut Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean beef stew meat
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/8 teaspoon dried sage
• 6 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 (10 1/2-ounce) cans beef broth
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 3 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled eggplant
• 2 cups quartered small red potatoes
• 1 1/2 cups cooked, shelled, and halved chestnuts (about 1 1/2 pounds in shells)
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added stewed tomatoes
• Thyme sprigs (optional)