Man Stew!

I thought for sure I would have posted this stew at least once, but after searching through blogs of rainy days' past, I didn't find it! So I feel it is absolutely necessary to share this easy and hearty stew. I make it a lot because Beau likes it and it is super easy. I make it in the crockpot, but you can make it in a regular soup pot too. (slightly different directions for a soup pot will be at the bottom of the recipe)

We call it...

Man Stew! And you will need...

3 small carrots, diced
1 onion, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
2 small potatoes, peeled and diced
3 strips of bacon (this is for the grease. if you would rather, a little olive oil will work just fine too)
2 lbs of stew beef
3 Tbsp flour
1 can diced tomatoes
2 bottles Guiness beer
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped

In a large skillet, cook the bacon to render the fat. Remove bacon and set aside. Saute carrot, onion, potatoes, and celery in the bacon grease until soft (potatoes won't be soft, but that is ok). Add the stew meat and brown. Once brown, sprinkle with flour and coat everything. Saute for 1 minute to cook out the flour flavor. Transfer to a crockpot and add tomatoes and beer. My crockpot takes hours on high to cook, but if you have a good crockpot you can cook it on low. Let it cook until meat is done and tender and the stew is thickened. Stir in fresh oregano and salt and pepper to taste.

If you do not want to use a crockpot, do all of the steps in the soup pot and simmer for 2 hours on the stove.

This is a chunky and hearty stew and is really yummy with just a hunk of bread as a side. Don't worry, the beer taste cooks out and makes a yummy broth. :) I did learn however, that the extra stout Guiness does not taste as good, you have to buy just the regular beer in the black bottles.

Enjoy!