Savory Vegetable Beef Stew

Total Time: 9 hrs 35 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 9 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 7
• 5 medium red potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 2 1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
• 4 medium carrots, sliced
• 2 celery ribs, thinly sliced
• 3 slices bacon, diced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can beef broth
• 1/2 cup dry red wine or 1/2 cup additional beef broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed tomato soup, undiluted
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cold water

Recipe

• 1 place the first four ingredients in a 5-qt. slow cooker.
• 2 in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp.
• 3 drain on paper towels.
• 4 reserve drippings.
• 5 in a large resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• 6 add meat; seal and shake to coat.
• 7 brown the beef, onion and garlic in drippings and oil.
• 8 transfer to slow cooker.
• 9 stir in broth, wine or additional broth, bay leaf, thyme, reserved bacon and remaining salt and pepper.
• 10 cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until tender.
• 11 discard bay leaf.
• 12 combine soup and water; add to slow cooker. cover and cook on high for 30 minutes. combine cornstarch and cold water; stir into slow cooker.
• 13 cover and cook for 30-40 minutes or until slightly thickened.