Treasury Feature

My Last Leaf Earrings are currently featured in a leaf themed treasury on Etsy.

As always, click to enlarge.

Don't you just love fall? I have been enjoying warm mugs of apple cider, homemade vanilla bean marshmallows and cozy stews. Last night I made a yummy Beef Stew and it completely satisfied my fall craving for something thick and hearty.

I love this recipe so much as it involves minimum work with maximum return. You just throw everything in your slow cooker, stir and forget about it--well, unless you're me and you work from home. I was tortured all day yesterday as I sat in my studio smelling this delicious stew simmering away across the house. Come 6 o'clock I was finished with my work day and my stew was ready and waiting for me. I threw together some store bought biscuits for dunking in the thick broth and the hubby and I had a perfectly cozy meal to enjoy as we watched this week's episode of Dexter.


Slow Cooker Beef Stew
adapted from All Recipes

serves 4

1 lb. beef stew meat
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups beef broth
2 large russet potatoes, diced
2 handfuls of baby carrots
2 bay leaves
1 package of McCormick's Beef Stew Seasoning*

1. Mix the flour, salt and pepper in the bottom of your slow cooker. Add the meat and stir to coat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, paprika, Worchestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots and McCormick's Beef Stew Seasoning (if using). Nestle in the bay leaves.

2. Cover, and cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours or on High for 4 to 6 hours. Serve.

I cooked mine on high for 5 hours and the potatoes and carrots were tender, but not falling apart.

*I added a package of McCormick's Beef Stew Seasoning per some suggestions on All Recipes; however, next time I will try it without as the stew had a bit too much seasoning. I think with using the beef broth and the seasonings in the recipe, the added Beef Stew Seasoning was a bit much.