The Joy of: Beef Stew

I don't like beef stew usually; it has a funny beef bouillon taste that I don't care for at all.  Imagine my chagrin when I had dinner at a friend's house years ago.  I always looked forward to it, as she has the best, home cooking, feel good recipes to share.
 
But this night: Beef stew. I was so disappointed when I sat down to eat. 

Since that night (well over 15 years ago), I've made her beef stew recipe countless times. I love it.  It is, by far, the best beef stew I've ever eaten.  It's also the only beef stew I've ever liked.  And since I've stuck for new recipes and have a new crock-pot just waiting for some new ideas, I thought I'd share this one and maybe someone would share one back.  Here goes:

1 pound stew beef
1 can tomato soup
1 soup can full of red wine (real stuff or cooking wine works the same)
1 cut up green pepper
1 cut up onion
2-3 carrots
2-3 ribs of celery
Potato cubed, if you like (I prefer mine over egg noodles)

Dump into the pot, cook and voila: Best Beef Stew. Ever.  The broth is so good I can just drink that alone over rice or noodles.   When you first put everything in the crockpot, it will look like you don't have enough juice; you do.  Let it cook on low for 6 hours or so and voila: Best.beef.stew.ever.

I also have the most awesome not-at-all-dry cornbread recipe I'll share another day when I have more time.   I'm off for now to fill some Hoos and Hokies jewelry orders. 

See you tomorrow!