Chunky Beef and Vegetable Stew for the Crock Pot

I should just start calling Tuesdays Manly Meal Tuesday’s. I made this yesterday for dinner in the crock since I’ve got class until late every Tuesday evening. It keeps Evan happy so that makes me happy 🙂 This is a great cooler weather stew that goes great with some homemade cornbread! The best thing about it… when you get home from work all you have to do is eat and enjoy!

Prep: 20 min

Cook Time: Low 8-10 hrs, High 4-5 hrs (I prefer low).

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs stew meat, try to get a quality grass fed organic beef of possible
• 1/2 C. Flour
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 3 C. Beef Broth ( I like Kitchen Basics)
• 1TBS Worces­ter­shire Sauce
• 1/2 C. Red Wine
• 1 tsp. Paprika
• 2-3 Bay Leaves
• 1 TBS ZestyBeanDog Fine Herb Blend
• 2-3 Cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 Large onion, chopped fine
• 3 C. Carrots, chopped or cubed
• 4 Celery stalks, chopped
• 3 White potatoes, cubed (you can use Russet but I like these).

Instructions:

1. Place cubed meat in a large plas­tic bag or bowl. Com­bine 1/2 cup flour (you will need it to cover your meat) with 1/2 tea­spoon salt & 1 tea­spoon pep­per; pour into the bag or bowl with the meat, then shake to coat. Then heat 1 table­spoon of butter in a large skil­let over medium-high heat. Add stew meat, and cook until evenly browned on the out­side, you want to sear the meat. It takes a few min­utes. Remove your stew meat & place into the crockpot.
2. Take your finely diced onion and garlic and put it in the same skil­let, with 1 table­spoon butter, and cook so your onions are translu­cent and softened. Then add in your red wine to make sure all the good bits are lifted off the skil­let & pour the con­tents of the skil­let into the crock­pot.  It’s important to get all the good bits from the meat and the onions of the bottom of the pan, so you don’t lose the fla­vor.
3. Now add the rest: ZBD fine herb blend, bay leaf, paprika, Worces­ter­shire sauce, beef broth, carrots, celery, and potatoes.
4. Cook for about 8-10 hours on low or 4-5 on high. If you would like it to thicken up a bit cook the last hour with the lid off the crock, or you can add a little bit of flour… Enjoy!

Cheers!