BEEF STEW? Need a recipe for full flavory, hearty THIN beef stew. Anyone know one?

My uncle is wasting away in a nursing home, but LOVES old fashioned, home made beef stew if it's THIN. He doesn't like "mush" he says. So, I know au jus works pretty well and some beef broth, but do I need some beef bones? Will femur bones work? I'll probably be making this in a slow cooker, but maybe in a dutch oven on my glass top stove--it cooks almost like a slow cooker. I'm not real handy with a pressure cooker, but could try it. He's not eating, and would love a great stew. I'm just not good with stew. I plan to brown the meat first rolled in flour or corn starch. What spices should I use? I want to maintain a low sodium level, so don't want to use too much beef broth, if any.