Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (45 page)

For added zest, add ½ tsp. Old Bay Seasoning and 1 rib celery, diced, in Step 2.

Beef Stew with Shiitake Mushrooms

Kathy Hertzler
, Lancaster, PA

Makes 4-6 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes • Cooking Time: 8-9 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

12 new potatoes, cut into quarters

½ cup chopped onions

8-oz. pkg. baby carrots

3-4-oz. pkg. fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced,
or
2 cups regular white mushrooms, sliced

16-oz. can whole tomatoes

14½-oz. can beef broth

½ cup flour

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. dried marjoram leaves

¼ tsp. pepper

1 lb. beef stewing meat, cubed

1. Combine all ingredients except beef in slow cooker.

2. Stir in beef.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 8-9 hours. Stir well before serving.

Best Ever Beef Stew

Barbara Walker

Sturgis, SD

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 6-7 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.

2 cups water

1 pkg. beef stew mix

2 lbs. stewing meat, cubed

3 15-oz. cans whole new potatoes,
or
3 lbs. fresh new potatoes

1 cup sliced celery

10-12 small white onions, peeled

1-1½ cups sliced carrots

8 oz. fresh mushrooms, whole,
or
sliced

1. Combine water and beef stew mix in slow cooker.

2. Place meat in slow cooker.

3. Stir in remaining ingredients.

4. Cover. Cook on High 6-7 hours, or until meat and vegetables are as tender as you like.

I put up a small tree in my kitchen and decorate it with my mother’s old cookie cutters and some of her recipe cards. I enjoy it while I’m in the kitchen during the holidays—which is a lot of time!

Carol L. Miller, Lockport, NY

Tomato-y Beef Stew

Janie Steele

Moore, OK

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5- to 6-qt.

5 lbs. stewing meat, cubed

2 onions, chopped

14½-oz. can chopped tomatoes

10¾-oz. can tomato soup

5-6 carrots, sliced

5-6 potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 cup sliced celery

1 bell pepper, sliced

2 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

2 cloves minced garlic

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours.

Serving suggestion: Since this is a nearly complete meal, I usually add only warm
bread
or
cornbread
to round it out.

Tip:

This recipe is very adaptable. You can reduce the amount of meat and increase the vegetables as you wish.

After-Work Stew

Vera M. Kuhns

Harrisonburg, VA

Makes 5 servings

Prep. Time: 15-20 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-9 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3- to 4-qt.

1½ lbs. beef, cut into 1½” cubes

oil

3 medium-sized potatoes, pared and cubed

4 medium-sized carrots, quartered

2 celery ribs, sliced

2 medium-sized onions, sliced

2 tsp. salt

½ tsp. dried basil

½ tsp. pepper

10¾-oz. can tomato soup

half a soup can water

1. Brown beef cubes in oil in skillet. Do in batches so that beef browns and doesn’t steam. Drain off drippings. Return beef to skillet.

2. Meanwhile, layer potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions in slow cooker.

3. Mix browned beef in skillet with salt, basil, and pepper, stirring up any browned bits in the skillet.

4. Place seasoned beef on top of vegetables.

5. Combine soup and water in a bowl. Pour over ingredients in slow cooker.

6. Cover. Cook on Low 8-9 hours, or just until vegetables and meat are tender.

Easy Beef Stew

Janie Steele

Moore, OK

Makes 14-18 servings

Prep. Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 10-11 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 2 4-qt. cookers

2-3 lbs. beef, cubed

16-oz. pkg. frozen green beans,
or
mixed vegetables

16-oz. pkg. frozen corn

2 lbs. carrots, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped

10¾-oz. can tomato soup

10¾-oz. can celery soup

10¾-oz. can mushroom soup

bell pepper chopped,
optional

16-oz. pkg. frozen peas

1. Combine all ingredients except peas in 2 4-qt. slow cookers. This is a very large recipe.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 10-11 hours, or until beef and vegetables are as tender as you like them.

3. Fifteen minutes before end of cooking time, stir in peas.