Stew

I love making Stew for many reasons. It is great because you can put it all in the crock pot in the morning and it cooks all day. This is nice because me and the kids don't get home until 5pm. I usually have to get Coolidge started on his homework, Brody situated and playing quietly in his room, and then I am running through the kitchen to get dinner ready. Well, when I make stew I get to sit with both of them and relax. Another great reason is the whole dinner is all in one pot. It warms you up on a chilly fall day and it is just simply delish. I first found this recipe in a magazine but I have changed it to my liking over the years. I don't start my stew until after I drop the kids off at school, drink my coffee, eat breakfast, start a load of laundry and then around noon I get it all out and in the pot. So I cook mine on high. I didn't make it much when my kids were younger because they didn't like it. Now however, they devour it and there are no left overs. 

Ingredients
1 package stew meat (chuck roast chopped)
1-2 potatoes chopped. I usually only use one because I put it over egg noodles
3 chopped carrots or couple hand fulls of carrots. I don't skimp on these because we all love them
2 stalks celery sliced
1 small onion diced.
2 cans consomme
salt and pepper
egg noodles
2tsp Italian seasoning
1tbs. oil

Recipe

Salt and pepper meat. In a HOT pan with a with oil, brown meat on both sides. Once the meat is brown on both sides put them in the crock pot. Take half can of beef consommé and pour in the pan. I do this because it gets all the yummy bits off the pan. Mix all around add the rest of the consommé,  Italian seasoning and a little more Salt and pepper and cook all day. If you start this in the morning put temperature on low. If you start at noon like me then cook it on high. I add my vegetables when there is only a couple more hours left cooking because I don't like the vegetables to be too soft.  I love to put my stew over egg noodles but you can use rice or even mashed potatoes. I like all three. Give it a try and let me know what you think.