French Onion Beef Stew

So far the menu is working well. Ok, so it has only been one day.  But I have hopes that I will keep it up.  For dinner tonight I made the French Onion Beef Stew.  It is more a soup than stew, but calling it French Onion soup with Stew Beef doesn't sound great.  Even though that is exactly what it is.  It was also delicious.  The broth is amazing.  The recipe calls for a 14.5oz can of low-sodium chicken broth.  In place of it I used the new Knorr's Homestyle Chicken stock.  Mixed it up with 3 1/2 cups of boiling water then added it to the crock pot.  First time I have used it.  Really good and really simple.

Here's the recipe.  Make sure you splurge at the bakery and get a nice fresh loaf of crusty bread.  It is worth it!  I also subbed mozzarella cheese for the Gruyere.  I like the gooey :)

Serves 4
8 sprigs of fresh thyme, plus 1 tsp leaves
1 14.5 oz can low sodium chicken broth
1 cup apple juice
4 medium carrots cut into 1/4 in pieces ( or cheat like me and buy the baby carrots already cut)
2 onions, thinly sliced - thin is important here
1 1/2 lbs lean beef stew meat, trimmed and cut into 1/2 in pieces
kosher salt and pepper
3 tbsp all purpose flour
4 thick slices of country bread
4 oz Gruyere or Swiss cheese, grated

Tie a piece of thread or kitchen twine around the thyme sprigs and place them in a 5-6 quart slow cooker.  Add the chicken broth, apple juice, carrots and onions.  Mix to combine
Season the beef with 1/2 tsp each of the salt and pepper; sprinkle with flour. Add the beef and any excess flour to the slow cooker and mix to combine.  Cook, covered, until the beef and vegetables are tender, 7-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.

When the stew has 10 minutes left to cook, turn on the broiler.  Place the bread on a foil lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle with the cheese and remaining tsp of thyme.  Broil until the cheese starts to brown, 1-2 minutes.  Spoon the stew into bowls and top with the toast.

 This really was easy to make.  Who doesn't like to come home to a house that smells wonderful after leaving dinner in the crock pot?