So here it is, it is loosely based on a Paula Deen beef stew recipe.
Ingredients (and you can add more veggies or less if you want):
1 Medium yellow onion, cut into wedges
3 Carrots, peeled and chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 russet potatoes, peeled, chopped, and boiled 8-10 minutes (depending on if you're using your slow cooker)
1 steak, chopped and seared (I just put the pan on medium high with olive oil, and brown each side for 30 seconds, as well as salt and pepper it. I let the slow cooker cook it he rest of the way)
2 Bay leaves
5-7 beef bullion cubes (I would say at least 2 for every cup of water, I like a beefy stew)
2-3 cups of water (I boil the bullion cubes in it)
1/3 C of butter
2-3 TB flour
Worchestershire sauce
Directions:
Chop all of the vegetables (DUH!), and boil the potatoes and cook the meat if you haven't already. Boil the water with the bullion cubes and set aside (make sure bullion cubes dissolve).
In a large pot melt the butter and then add flour to make a rue. You can use more flour to make a thicker stew, the flour should dissolve into a paste in the butter, it's okay to add more if it's not thickening. After it is thickened, add the broth you made with the bullion and water, stir with a wire wisk until combined, boil for at least 1 minute so your broth can thicken. In a separate pan combine the meet and the vegetables, I like to season it before I mix it with the broth because I feel like if I don't my seasoning will end up at the bottom of the pot. Put your pan on low and just let it sizzle for a couple of minutes, adding worchestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and minced garlic for flavor, after about 5 minutes add vegetables to the broth, stir well with a wooden spoon and add the bay leaves. You can transfer it to a crock pot and let simmer for about an hour, or you can boil it for about 20 minutes so the vegetables are tender. This is all dependent on your taste, and time, it's quicker than it sounds, so if you want to have a quick meal ready for later, just put it all in the crock pot, the veggies should be soft and the meat tender. If you want crisper veggies, less time (whoa, common sense is great, right?!). Enjoy, and let me know how it turns out for you.
