Old Fashioned, Easy, and Frugal Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker

I had a little bit of beef broth left over from my previous French Onion Soup experiment, and I thought that beef stew would be an ideal way to make use of it. This is an incredibly simple recipe that can simmer in the crock pot all day long. Since lately I am spending quite a few days away from the house, the crock pot is a great convenience measure for me, as it is for most busy families. This is a wonderful, warm, and nourishing supper to come home to on a chilly evening. The homemade beef broth gives it a very rich flavor, the Worcestershire gives it a bit of a kick, and the cloves add a bit of warmth and interesting depth.

3lbs beef stew meat (whatever cheap cut you have handy), cut into 1in cubes                        
3 carrots, chopped              
2 turnips, chopped    
2 sweet potatoes, cut into chunks                                                                                                        1 onion, cut into wedges  
1 cup diced tomatoes                            
4 cups beef broth       
2 celery ribs, chopped  
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce                                                                                                                   5 cloves garlic     
2 bay leaves   
2 tsp cloves   
2 tsp salt    
2 tsp pepper

Put all of your ingredients together in a crock pot, then let them simmer all day, about 10 hours. It does not get any easier than that! Come home to a kitchen that smells heavenly, and a nourishing supper ready to be devoured. Remove the bay leaves, sample and add seasoning to your taste, then dig in! Leftovers are great warmed up for lunch the next day. That is what I am packing for Nick. This time we actually had enough leftovers that I have lunches for two days!

I am sharing this recipe at It’s a Keeper Thursday the Nourishing Gourmet’s Pennywise Platter Thursday, and Full Plate Thursdays, Frugal Food Thursdays, Fresh Bite Fridays, Simply Sweet Home’s Friday Favorites Party, Fun with Food Friday, Fight Back Fridays, and Monday Mania.