Crock Pot Beef Stew
2.5 lbs chuck
1/4 cup bacon grease
salt
fresh cracked mixed peppers
1/8 c cooking wine
1 onion
12 oz beer
1 lb bag carrots
8 medium potatoes
8oz mushrooms
2 t minced garlic
1 t thyme
1 t marjoram
1/3 t ground celery seed
1/2 t white pepper
2/3 t salt
2 c bone stock
Heat 2/3 of bacon grease in griddle (or heavy pan) on high.
Cut beef into 1" x 3/4" x 3/4" pieces.
Liberally salt and pepper the beef.
Brown beef, 4 minutes per side, no stirring.
while beef is browning:
Slice onion.
Place onion in bottom of crock pot.
Add beer.
Set crock pot for 8 hrs, low.
Slice mushrooms.
Peel and chop carrots & potatoes.
Add to crock pot.
Add browned beef to crock pot. Deglaze griddle with cooking wine.
Dissolve drippings into wine & pour into crock pot.
Sautee mushrooms in rest of bacon grease. Add to crock pot.
Add garlic, herbs & spices, celery, and salt to crock pot.
Cook three hours or until sizzle is heard from crock pot. Stir. Add
bone stock. Allow 8-hour cycle to complete, stirring every two hours if
available (otherwise add all ingredients at beginning and it will be
almost as good).
This will yield a thick stew. Add and heat water for soupier stew.