Crockpot Mom's Beef Stew

from Favorite Family Recipes: Mom’s Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 2 Lbs steak, cubed
• Tabasco sauce, to taste
• Worcestershire sauce, to taste
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 medium onion, chopped or diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3-4 c. beef broth
• 2 large potatoes, cleaned and cut into large cubes
• 3-4 carrots, peeled and cut
• 1/2 c. frozen corn
• 1/2 c. frozen peas
• 1/2 c. tomato juice (or to taste)(used 8 oz tomato sauce, was good)
• cornstarch (optional)

Instructions

• Braise beef in oil until just brown on all sides (turning only once if possible).
• Add Tabasco, Worcestershire, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Add onions and saute until onions become clear.
• Transfer to a *large pot and add beef broth, potatoes and carrots.
• Bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour (or until potatoes are cooked through) if you want the beef to be really tender, simmer for even longer.
• About 20 minutes before serving, add corn, peas and tomato sauce and simmer until ready to serve. If you like your stew nice and thick, add a about 1 Tbsp. of cornstarch to some beef broth, stir until smooth, then stir into the stew.
• Add beef broth to thin out and cornstarch to thicken. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.
• *You can also throw everything (except potatoes, corn & peas) in a crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours -- add potatoes, corn & peas the last 2-3 hours so they don't get too mushy.