You can also add celery to your stew.

The recipe that cousin gave you is pretty much exactly the way I do it as well.

You can add the flour at the beginning which will prevent it from clumping when you pour it into the hot crock pot.

when you put the browned beef in the crock, coat it with about 1 TBSP of flour, then add the broth and veggies.

It should thick nicely.

now, you need to make some drop bisquits to go with the stew! YUM

I am craving a cabbage stew now.

Good idea about the flour Kimmie - Sydney, I think I add about 2 cups of liquid, so you could add 1 cup of each or 1 1/2 cups of stock and 1/2 cup wine. (I buy that wine at the LCBO so I know it's readily available.)

Hi Inky I am glad you had a nice evening and a good dinner. It sounds good. I will have to put Gran Torino on my movie list to see.

Cousin I found the red wine you recommended and I have browned the meat added the broth, wine and onions its all set to go in the crock pot tomorrow morning.

Kimmie, I took your advice and added the flour now, so it can simmer and thicken.

I will let you all know how it turns out tomorrow. It already smells wonderful.

I want some when it's finished.

Well heck Sydney I thought you would fly down here with some You just might get the GOOD pilot.

Buxom and Linda we will have dinner at 7pm, I know its late but I want to leave extra travel time for you both LOL, hopefully the nasty weather cooperates and it doesn't decide to snow again!!

You ladies prefer red or white wine with beef stew? or how about a cold Canadian Beer? LOL.

SNOW!!!! (Not our Snow) No way will I go near snow. It was 80 here today and I think I'll stay put. But thanks anyway.

Do you have room for one more tomorrow night, Sydney? I'd be glad to bring dessert.

I had dinner delivered tonight. My son and daughter-in-law -- bless their hearts -- made meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, green beans, tossed salad, and sugar free cheesecake . . . and brought it all here. They said since this was my birth week, I shouldn't have to cook. Wasn't that nice? Everything was just delicious -- especially since I didn't have to lift a finger. That's my favorite kind of dinner and one I don't get very often.

It sure was nice Inky. I'm not going to Sydney's so I don't think she'd mind if you took my place.

Woo hoo! Thanks, Linda! Two days of "no cookin'" for me!

Of course there is room Inky! You guys are welcome in my home anytime you like! I would love to cook with all of you or cook for you

Well the stew turned out great! My kids even devoured it. It was a perfect day to do it, I had an extremely busy and stressful day at work today. It was wonderful to come home to the aroma and know that a healthy dinner was waiting.

Thanks Cousin for all your advice, Inky and Kimmie the gravey turned out perfectly!

Thanks everyone and give it a try, the red wine added a great rich flavour. I think I am going to cook with red wine more often when preparing beef dishes.

Glad to hear that Sydney ........ did you drink any of the wine? We really like it.
The great thing about stew is, it tastes even better the second time around. (If you have any leftovers, that is!)
My DH likes it when I make him a sort of beef pie with the leftover stew. (Topped with biscuits and served with green beans - I indulge him if I'm currying favours. Ha)

Hi Cousin, I can't drink red wine it give me a headache (I love white though LOL) I did take the bottle I bought with me to my brothers home on Saturday night and let my family have some, they thought it was good! I didn't want to waste what I wasn't going to use to cook with. I told them they could drink just half the bottle, I didn't want to be short for my stew LOL.

Lori I really need to use my crock pot more often. Its so wonderful to come home after work to dinner and the house smelling so wonderful, plus very little clean up which is great. I do make the Guiness (sp?) beef stew which is great (I am pretty sure I posted that one at the other board which is here in the index) red wine brings out a totally different flavour. However I would love to try some Chicken recipes or anything else, in the crock pot. I haven't ventured into chicken at all. I have a friend that used to do a whole chicken in it, Any suggestions??

WHOLE chickens are great in the crock.

The trick is to rub the chicken with butter or olive oil, salt and pepper it and put minimal water in the crock so you get a crispy crust and not mushy skin.

You can add your veggies as well to the crock, like carrots, potatoes, etc.

if you have time when you get home you can add rice to the broth and cook it in the chicken stock to give you a nice compliment if you dont want to do veggies.

Also, if you have chicken breasts or thighs, you can place them in a bed of soup(like cream of chicken) to give you a creamy chicken.

I like to add peppers, onions, pinapple, and soy sauce, chicken broth, for a hawaiin chicken dish.

another recipe is chicken, tomatoes, onions, green peppers and rice for a chicken poppicosh(sp) recipe that is wonderful as well. this one is served over rice.(i use instant brown rice) topped with sour cream!

Pork ribs are good in the crock pot. Simmer them all day in some BBQ sauce , onion and garlic and they fall right off the bone. Or you can get boneless ones and it's even better.

Thanks Kimmie and Linda! I am going to try both of those. I love roast chicken but I always worried about getting mushy skin, now I know the trick Thanks Kimmie.

Linda I love BBQ ribs and so do the ladies. I will give this a try also.



Tomorrow I am going with a few other mom's from the girls Gymnastics club to Supperworks. Its where you make ahead meals (don't cook them) just make ahead. All the prep work and mess is left at the store. You bring them home freeze them, when ready to eat just cook and serve. I am anxious to give this a try. The other moms say its a real time saver. I will let you know how it goes.

I do BBQ sauce and chicken wings or drumettes in the crockpot.....fall off the bone good.