Beef Stew

I don't follow a recipe...I just cut up and throw into a crock pot whatever I have on hand. If you are going to be home and have a large stock pot (so you aren't leaving stovetop on while away) this is a great meal to make extra of and freeze. Anyway, I usually add:
4-6 carrots
4-6 potatoes
4-6 stalks of celery
can of stewed or diced tomatoes (gives the broth flavor & makes the meat extra tender)
1 sweet onion
can of whole kernal corn
can or fresh green beans
2-4 bay leaves
2-3 cubes of beef bouillon
water (as much as you like for the thickness you prefer)

in the crockpot, I let it all cook together for 7-8 hours on low; on the stove top for about 2-4 hours on medium heat

my husband doesn't like soups and stews much, but loves it when I make this. You can leave out anything that you don't like/don't have or add something that sounds good to you for veggies. Good luck & have fun with it! :)

Hi L.
All recipes.com is very good you can look through all there diffrent beef stew recipes and pick one that is easy and sounds good to you.

Have you heard of the cookbook "Fix it and Forget it"? It has wonderful slow cooker stew recipes! Also, allrecipes.com is awesome! Good luck!

L.,

I use the recipe in my Joy of Cooking book. Take the meat and salt and pepper it, then add some spices (about a tsp total of either oregano, thyme, marjoram) then dredge it with flour and brown in a big pot. Once browned, remove and add 1/4 cup of diced onion, 1/4 cup of diced carrot, and 1/4 cup of leeks (only if you have them), and 1/4 cup of diced cellary. Cook the vegi's until soft and put the meat back in. Add liquid to cover (I use chicken broth - you could use water, or beer, or wine, or a combination) and simmer for 1 1/2 hours (or until meat is tender). Then, add largely chopped carrot, potato and other root vegi's if you like them, a bay leaf and cook until everything is soft and tasty. You can add more salt and pepper to taste, and also additional spices that you used on the meat to season the broth.

Good luck!
Jessica

To Stew means to heat in hot liquid (water)
here is a highly rated 4.5 Stas! recipe online:
I have made stew meat in a slow cooker or on the stove top. Key is not to overheat it which makes it tough, then. Note 3 Hrs slow cooking is the key.

http://www.recipezaar.com/112813
Ingredients
1 lb beef stew meat (already cut up)
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can French onion soup (undiluted)
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup (undiluted)
Directions
1Mix together french onion and cream of mushroom soups in a 2 1/2 qt casserole dish.
2Add stew meat raw, making sure that all the meat is covered by the soup (it browns and cooks in the oven with the soups).
3Cover and place in 350 degree oven for 3 hours.
4Serve over steamed rice or noodles with a salad.
5This recipe doubles or triples easily (just add one can of either soup per extra pound of meat).
6I usually make extra and freeze it for another night.