Slow-cooker beef stew!

[FedoraDave]

That's what I'm making this morning, after I keg the batch of Rhino IPA.

I found a site that offered not a recipe, but a road map for creating stew, which I find more helpful (and is how I often look at recipes/cookbooks anyway). It offers options that I can choose from. For instance, instead of saying to add X amount of potato and carrots, it says "you want to add a certain amount of root vegetables, and these are some you can choose from." Same with the spices and other flavorings. "Add X amount of liquid, such as wine, beer, or broth." I like that, because it guides me through the skeleton of a good beef stew, but keeps me in control of the actual outcome.

Now, I like what I consider a traditional stew. I know I could use squash or pumpkin, and they'd make it different and be good, but I just like potatoes, carrots, and celery. Onions and garlic, too, of course. And I'll be browning the meat first in a cast-iron skillet using the "sweat and deglaze" method, adding liquid, letting it reduce on the heat, stirring the meat until it's burnt-looking, then repeating the process a couple more times. It really flavors the meat deeply. And I'm using Guinness as my liquid, so it'll be nice and robust.

I'm the only one in the house who likes beef stew, so I only have to please myself. And I'll be making so much of it, that I'll be able to portion it out and freeze it for quick, hearty winter meals.

[MadBrewer]

Sounds good. Love this time of year for Stews, Soups and Chili.

[The_Professor]

...I found a site that offered not a recipe, but a road map for creating stew...

This stew road map ?

[FedoraDave]

...I found a site that offered not a recipe, but a road map for creating stew...

This stew road map ?

That's the one!

And MadBrew, now you've got me thinking I should make some slow-cooker chili before too long!

[Whamolagan]

I bought an instant pot pressure cooker a couple of months ago, and learned to make beef stew in like 2 hours., The first thing I made in it was chicken and I totally wrecked it, and turned it into chicken gumbo in 2 hours, and it was the best gumbo I have ever made.

[alb]

Peas. I grew up with peas in the stew and it never tastes right to me without them. I like the idea of stout in there.

[bpgreen]

Peas. I grew up with peas in the stew and it never tastes right to me without them. I like the idea of stout in there.

As Dave said, that's mostly a road map. If you want peas, add peas.

[alb]

If you want peas, add peas.

Oh, I've got no problem with doing things the way I want.

[bpgreen]

One thing I forgot to mention is that if you aren't already using them, buy some slow cooker liner bags. Those things are great. No more soaking and scraping to clean the slow cooker. Just empty the bag and you're done.

[FedoraDave]

One thing I forgot to mention is that if you aren't already using them, buy some slow cooker liner bags. Those things are great. No more soaking and scraping to clean the slow cooker. Just empty the bag and you're done.

Yep! As they say in the infomercials, clean-up's a breeze!

It turned out pretty good. The stout gave it a very robust flavor. I'm not as happy with my choice of herbs and spices, though. The rosemary gave it a minty undertone that I didn't much care for.

[FrozenInTime]

I love a good beef stew. I add a bag of frozen peas the last 30 minutes cook'n. Goes great with a loaf of fresh from the bread-machine hot bread! I always brown the meat before it goes in the crock, stews and roasts. Adds flavor me thunks.