Beef Stew SloCook

Ingredients

2 lb stew meat, cut in 1-inch cubes
2 Tbs olive oil
Season salt + fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 lb potatoes cut in bite size pieces
4 carrots diagonally cut in 1/4 inch pieces
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 clove garlic, minced
3 c beef broth
2 Tbs tomato paste
1 Tbs Worchestershire sauce
1 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp ground rosemary
1 tsp smoked paprika
3 bay leaves
1/4 c red wine
4 Tbs unsalted butter
1/4 c flour
3 Tbs chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Heat oil in large skillet until it starts to smoke.
Generously season beef with season salt and pepper.
Brown beef in batches over high heat 2-3 minutes per batch.
After beef is browned, add onions and saute till soft, add garlic and cook one minute.
Remove onions and deglaze pan with red wine scraping up brown bits. Reduce by half.
Soften vegetables in microwave.
Add beef broth to reduced wine with tomato paste and seasonings. Stir until combined.
Place beef, onion/garlic and vegetables in 6 qt slow cooker.
Pour broth mixture over.
Cover and cook 7 hours on low ( or high for 3 hours )
Melt butter and add flour to form roux. Add 2 cups of stew broth and heat until thickened.
Add to slow cooker and cook on high additional hour.
Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Notes

Optional seasoning additions:
fresh sage leaves
fresh mint leaves
1/2 tsp MSG
1/2 tsp summer savory

Optional vegetable additions:
1/2 cup green or yellow beans
1/2 cup sweet corn kernels.