Slow Cooker Beef Stew

PRE-STORY: The week after Christmas, I decided to make comfort food. I’ve made beef stew once before using a braising method but decided to try a crock pot recipe. Thing is, picking one is difficult so I just combined a few together.

DISH: Beef
SOURCE/ADAPTED FROM: A mix of Beef Stew recipes from allrecipe.com
ACTIVE TIME: ~30 minutes TOTAL TIME: ~7 Hours

• 1 pound Stew Meat

• 1 Tablespoon Flour, plus 1 teaspoon
• Salt

• 1 Tablespoon EVOO
• ~ 4 Baby Carrots cut into bite size pieces
• ¼ pound Fresh Green Beans (only because I had them)
• 2 small potatoes, cubed
• 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
• Pepper, to taste
• 2/3 C Boiling Water
• 1 Package Dry Onion Mushroom Soup Mix
• 1 Tablespoon Butter
• 1 Onion, diced
• ~ 5 Button Mushrooms, cut into 4ths
½ C Red Wine (original recipe called for a Tablespoon…I laughed)
• 1 Cup Beef Broth

• 2 teaspoons Flour mixed with water

Mix flour and Salt. Dredge meat in flour mixture. Heat EVOO in large skillet over medium high heat. Add stew meat and cook until evenly browned on the outside (do this in batches). Transfer to slow cooker along with carrots, potatoes, parsley and pepper. In a small bowl, stir together boiling water and soup mix. Pour into slow cooker.

In same skillet melt butter, add onion and cook until softened. Add to slow cooker. Pour red wine into skillet and break up brown bits. Pour into slow cooker. Add beef broth. Add water to cover food in slow cooker.
Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes. Reduce to low and cook for 6 hours.

SERVES / NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
Serves 4 (Leftovers were even better)

RATING/DIFFICULTY:
3 - Good but Need Tweaking - I would rate it higher for taste, but there is just so much you can do with this recipe.

Easy Peasy

SERVED WITH:
Wegman’s Clover Rolls.

FINAL NOTES:
As comfort food goes, beef stew hits the spot. You can mix/match recipes, add/subtract ingredients, play with seasonings, etc. It is a great item for the new cooks out there! Here’s a helpful hint my mom has passed on to me: too salty, throw in more cubed potatoes (can also be used to thicken broth).