Fall is such a great time to get out the slow cooker for favorite recipes. Now that the weather is cooler and crisper, appetites call for heartier meals that might have simmered all day in their own natural juices. This is a great time to make a stew that everyone in the family can enjoy, along with a side of crusty bread for dipping.
Stews lend themselves well to crock pots because they need time to simmer and vegetables become more tender the longer the stew cooks. Stew meats also work better in slow cookers because they need the time to become more tender. After a long day, it's nice to sit down to a hearty, tender stew that has had time to become its best.
This particular stew recipe has an option of adding frozen mixed vegetables for more flavor. It can also be made without them. There is a variation for when to add the vegetables at the end of this recipe.
Ingredients:
- 3-4 lbs of beef roast steak or beef roast, cubed
- 1/3 cup of flour
- 1 tsp of salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 1-2 medium potatoes, cubed
- 4 oz can of sliced mushrooms, drained
- 10 oz package of frozen mixed vegetables
- 10 1/2 oz can of condensed beef broth
- 1/2 cup of water
- 2 tsp of brown sugar
- 14 1/2 oz can of sliced tomatoes (keep juice)
- 1/4 cup of flour (for thickening the stew at the end)
- 1/4 cup of water ( " )
Steps:
- Combine all of the vegetables except the tomatoes in the slow cooker
- Coat the beef cubes with 1/3 cup of flour, the salt, and the pepper and add to the slow cooker
- Combine the 1/2 cup of water, the beef broth, and the brown sugar
- Pour this mixture over the meat and vegetables, and then slowly stir in the tomatoes
- Cook in the covered crock pot on low for 10 - 14 hours, or on high for 4 - 5 1/2 hours
- An hour before finishing, mix 1/4 cup of flour and 1/4 cup of water together and stir into the slow cooker
- Cover and continue cooking
Tip:
- For crispier vegetables, add 1/2 of the bag of mixed veggies to the slow cooker one hour before serving
Sides and Desserts:
- Have a crusty loaf of bread (such as French bread) for dipping into the stew. Lightly toast it in the oven beforehand if preferred. Another side could be a hearty green salad. End the meal with chocolate or rice pudding with homemade whipped cream.
This recipe makes 8 - 10 servings.
- For healthy recipes for family and friends, visit Women's Healthy Recipes
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