Slow Cooker Caramelized Onion Beef Stew

2 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 cups halved and thinly sliced sweet onions (about 1 1/2 onions)
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 1/2 lb beef stew meat
1 cup beef flavored broth (from 32-oz carton)
1 package (.87 oz) onion gravy mix
2 cups 1-inch pieces diagonally cut carrots
1 cup 1-inch pieces diagonally cut parsnips
1/2 cup frozen sweet peas

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Cook onions and sugar in butter 30 to 35 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are deep golden brown and caramelized. Stir in thyme and stew meat; place in slow cooker.
In medium bowl, mix broth and gravy mix; pour over meat mixture in slow cooker. Top with carrots and parsnips. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until beef and vegetables are tender.
Stir in peas. Cover; cook 10 to 15 minutes longer or until hot.

1 pound beef boneless round steak
1 pound small red potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices (4 cups)
2 medium stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
2 medium carrots, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 cans (14.5 ounces each) beef broth
1 jar (6 ounces) sliced mushrooms, undrained
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1. Cut the beef into 1 1/4-inch pieces. Mix beef and remaining ingredients except water and flour in 5-quart slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours.

3. Mix the water and flour in small bowl; gradually stir into the soup until blended. Turn to High heat setting. Cover and cook about 30 minutes or until slightly thickened.

1 Serving: Calories 150 (Calories from Fat 20); Total Fat 2 1/2g (Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 25mg; Sodium 1200mg; Total Carbohydrate 18g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 2g); Protein 15g

1 lb to 1 1/2 lbs 93% lean ground beef
medium bell pepper – chopped
medium onion – chopped
chopped garlic (I use the already chopped garlic in a jar)
salt
pepper
chili powder
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 medium can of tomato sauce
2 medium cans of dark red kidney beans – drained.

Brown the ground beef in a frying pan. While it’s browning chop up the onion and bell pepper. Add the ground beef, onion, bell pepper and garlic to your slow cooker. Mix well. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and kidney beans and mix well. Add the salt, pepper and chili powder (to taste, I usually pour some in the palm of my hand about 3 or 4 times) and mix well again. I use a lot of chili powder. This chili will clear your sinuses! Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

I like to add shredded cheese on top before serving. Hubby is always asking me to make my chili! This chili is hubby approved! Enjoy and share!

click for bigger

I took about a half bottle of barbecue sauce and added some ketchup, brown sugar and a little water and mixed them in a bowl. I poured some of the mixture into the bottom of my slow cooker and laid the 4 pork chops on top. Then I sprinkled some salt and pepper on the chops then poured the rest of the mixture on top.

I set the slow cooker on high and will cook them for 3 or 4 hours then turn it to keep warm until hubby gets home. We will also be having some mashed potatoes and veggies along with it. They are already starting to smell real good!

I have my IPod going and I’m dancing around and cleaning like crazy. I’ve also taken the broom and cleaned the ceiling (I have those nasty popcorn ceilings in this place). I always used to play music and dance around and clean and it used to keep me skinny. Maybe it will still work!

I’ve never used that seasoning before so I thought I’d give it a try. It smells very good. They also have many other varieties for beef, chicken, pork, etc.