By Jodee Weiland

When the temperatures are extremely cold to below zero and the wind chill is below zero as well, it’s time to make Savory Beef Stew…A Delicious and Hearty Winter Meal!

Beef stew is always welcome in our family when the days are cold outside, and we need a hearty meal that will take the chill off our bones. This recipe for beef stew is cooked slowly in the crock pot for six to eight hours, is definitely full of delicious flavor, and is easily one of the best meals to prepare on a cold winter’s day.

Full of fresh cut vegetables and cubed Angus Beef seasoned to perfection, this dish fills your home with an enticing aroma as it cooks and when done, it gives you a meal that satisfies your taste buds with rich savory flavors. Be sure to use lean cuts of meat for a healthier beef stew because it would be a waste of all those fresh ingredients if your beef choice is not up to par. Whenever I cook a meal, I always look for the leanest meat or poultry portions I can find. Healthy living is important and quite feasible, if you are willing to look for leaner meat choices.

Savory Beef Stew…A Delicious and Hearty Winter Meal!

3 to 4 pounds of cubed Angus beef
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 to 4 cups peeled carrots quartered
3 to 4 cups peeled potatoes cubed
2 medium onions sliced
3 to 4 garlic cloves chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 and 1/2 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Clean and cut the vegetables and layer them on the bottom of your crock pot as follows: carrots, potatoes, onions, and finally, the garlic on top. Then sprinkle over the top of this with the sugar, paprika, basil, thyme, and last of all, put the two bay leaves on top.

Heat the olive oil in a pan on the stove. Now put half the beef in a plastic bag and half the flour with it. Shake the bag coating well all the beef with flour. Add in the last of the beef and flour, and then shake the bag again mixing it until all the beef is evenly coated.  When done, put the beef in the pan with the heated oil and turn the beef cubes until evenly browned. You are not cooking the beef, but simply browning it. Drain off excess fat and oil as you transfer the beef to the crock pot with a slotted spoon.

Blend together the crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, and the Worcestershire sauce. Pour this mixture over the top of everything. Then cover your crock pot and set it to 6 to 8 hours to cook.

At the end of that time, you will have a Savory Beef Stew…A Delicious and Hearty Winter Meal to serve to your family and/or guests! The wonderful aromas in your home from the hours of slowly cooking will have everyone ready to eat. This beef stew goes well with a crusty loaf of rosemary olive bread and a glass of red wine. Everything you need is in the beef stew itself, meat and vegetables. We love this beef stew and look forward to this delicious and hearty meal, especially on those cold winter days. If we have enough leftovers, we like to freeze what’s left for another meal or simply reheat it the next day. The amount of ingredients we used in this recipe makes enough to serve 6 to 8 people easily depending on the type of eaters at your table. I know you will be glad you made this recipe, so go ahead and enjoy!