With spring upon us now, we tend to spend more time outdoors. It’s also the time when we begin to look for meals to prepare in a slow cooker so we don’t have to spend so much time in the kitchen.
This tasty Baby Portobello-Beef Stew is one such dish. It’s not only easy to make, but it’s also tasty.
Add a slice of this Green Onion French Bread and a few slices or quarters of a fresh, ripe tomato to make it complete meal.
BABY PORTABELLO-BEEF STEW
1 to 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 package au jus gravy mix
1 package onion soup mix
2 cups baby carrots
1 rib celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh, cleaned, sliced baby portobello mushrooms
8 small new potatoes (red or yellow), scrubbed, skins left on and quartered
1 package brown gravy mix
1 cup water
4 cups beef broth
Place stew meat in a Ziploc bag with 1/4 cup of flour and salt and pepper and shake to coat meat. Pour olive oil in a heavy skillet and heat on medium-high heat for 30 seconds. Place floured pieces of beef in a skillet to brown (about 5 to 10 minutes), stirring frequently. Remove when browned and transfer to a greased slow cooker or crockpot.
Sprinkle the au jus gravy mix and onion soup mix over meat. Add the carrots, celery, garlic and mushrooms over the meat and place the potatoes on top of vegetable mixture. Mix the brown gravy mix with 1 cup cold water and pour over all, along with the beef broth.
Turn slow cooker or crockpot on high and cook for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until vegetables are tender, gently stirring a few times while cooking. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
GREEN ONION FRENCH BREAD
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (16-ounce) loaf unsliced French bread
Combine first five ingredients, stirring well. Slice bread in half lengthwise. Spread cheese mixture on cut sides of bread.
Place bread, crust-side down, on an ungreased baking sheet; broil 5 1/2 inches from heat for 3 minutes or until cheese topping is bubbly. Cut into desired number of servings.
Brotherton offers website readers one or more stellar recipes a week in the “My Leader Yummy” feature. Looking for a recipe you can’t find? Email her at kbrotherton42@gmail.com and she’ll see if she has it.
