Slow cooker beef stew with bake-and-smash potatoes

400g lean stewing beef, cut into 3cm pieces

4 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 onions, finely sliced

4 garlic cloves, crushed

2 bay leaves

1 litre beef stock

2 tbsp flour

Bake-and-Smash Mash:

4 small potato/sweet potato

4 tsp maple syrup

2 tsp fresh thyme leaves

salt and pepper