HOMEWORK FOR TONIGHT

Okay here is the homework.

First make sure that you have all the ingredients that you need. You might have to take a trip to Walmart or Canadian tire to pick up a cheap slow cooker , you can get them for around $25.00 one of the best kitchen utensils you will have . If that does not work for you put it on your Christmas List..

So here we go...I have included the recipe as well. What I need you to do tonight is to cut up your vegetables and follow the directions for preparation and then put it all in the slower cooker pot (hoping you have a removeable pot) in the fridge. Then first thing in the morning before you head for work put the Slower Cooker on and set on low and when you get home from work and open the door it will smell like you were home again smelling your moms home cooking. Great idea call your mom today and invite her over for dinner tonight......My girlfriend Pat would love that






Beef and Potato Stew





INGREDIENTS

2 lbs. stew beef ( or buy a large round steak and cut it in chunks yourself ,cheaper)
1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. paprika
4 lg. carrots (can use baby carrots as well)
3 lg. potatoes (cut in quarters)
1 c. condensed beef broth
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. soy sauce( this is all the salt content that you will need
1 lg. onion
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)
Barbacue Sauce

DIRECTIONS
Layer potatoes, then carrots. Top with meat; sprinkle meat with soy sauce, paprika, pepper & flour. Spread with chopped onions. Combine beef broth & tomato sauce & pour overall. Cover & cook on low 7 - 8 hrs. or high 4 - 5 hrs.

NOTES: Instead of sprinkling the meat with soy sauce, salt, paprika, pepper & flour as the recipes says, I mix those all together in a small bowl. This prevents the flour from becoming clumpy. Instead of chopped onions, I use 3 or 4 small yellow onions whole (Not all of my family are onions fan but still like the taste they give the stew. ) I add about 1/4 cup barbecue sauce to the top, before putting the cover on. I use whatever variety of sauce that I have on hand. I don't usually buy the "regular" flavor of any brand, but instead have hickory, brown sugar or garlic and onion flavors. The BBQ sauce adds an extra "kick" to the meat and gravy. For the beef broth, since I don't usually keep that on hand, I dissolve 1 beef bouillon cube into 1 cup boiling water.




Another easier option is to buy the SLOW COOKER SPICE PACKAGE the same idea as those of you that buy the gravy mixture . Clubhouse makes some pretty good spice combinations that we will use in a few of our recipes but just use the same ingredients like your meat and vegetables along with the spice package.

Now about Slow Cookers....

You should only fill the cooker no more then 2 thirds full as you need the last third to create the steam to cook. Everytime you take that lid off the cooker it takes 20 minutes off of the cooking time. So be patient. If you wish and you have a large crockpot (slowcooker) you can double this recipe and freeze half of it for another night or have some for lunch the next day.

Cheers

Granny