Jim you were doing really good by sterilizing your jars and putting the food into them, but I would also run a plastic spoon around and thru your stew after putting the stew into the jars, to make sure you don't have any air bubbles and wipe the rim of your jars just to make sure that they are clean and you can get a good seal. Now this next part is what you left out. Since beef stew is a low acid food ( all meats, be it beef chicken pork seafood and most vegetables) having a Ph level of greater that 4.6 must be heat processed in a pressure cooker to destroy bacteria. Place your jars into your pressure canner, adjust water level, lock lid down and bring to a boil with vent off. Once you see a steady stream of steam let vent for 10 minutes then close vent. Let your pressure get up to 10 lbs (pressure allowed for 0 - 1000 ft above sea level and since you are in Texas, I don't think you are higher than 1000 ft) and process your pints for 75 minutes and quarts for 90 minutes. You will need to watch your pressure because if it falls under 10 lbs you will need to start your timing over. Honestly, I get mine up to 11 lbs just in case. Once your time is up, turn off heat and let the pressure release naturally, do NOT take the vent off at this time. If you do, there is a chance that you will loose the liquid in your jars and you will not get a proper seal. Once it is on 0 lbs, wait a couple minutes then remove your jars and let cool.
Once you get the hang of things canning is a lot of fun! It makes you feel accomplished to see all the things from the garden in their jars sitting pretty on your shelves. Good luck Jim