As I'm no longer out at work all week, I don't use slow cookers these days, just my electric oven. And to cope with the more mature, tougher cuts of meat I ....

Cook at a high heat (200C) in a casserole dish with a lid on for a full hour, then for a couple more hours at a moderate heat (150C) turning the meat (or just stirring if it's been diced) every now and then.

I only add vegetables for the last hour of the moderate temperature.

The initial high heat speeds up the break down of fibrous meats whilst the later, moderate heat finishes the process to provide a good and tender end result - plus excellent stock for gravy

I know slow cookers are meant for cooking while you're at work but I never trusted leaving one on while I was not home. I only use it it when I can be here supervising.

Same here, oldbroad. I just never felt comfortable leaving mine on when no one was home. Lots of people do though!

I did very occasionally leave mine on whilst I was at work but I wasn't ever a regular user of them, whether I was in OR out of the house. I've always preferred my hob and ovens

oldbroad, mad, draclvr. i was home, as my hubby, he, my sister help me.

So, how did it turn out, family?

it was good, but the guy i gave some to put sugar in it, 3 cups.

3 cups of sugar!! Oh my

Sugar? In beef stew? THREE CUP!? Throw it out!

that was his, mine is in my fridge, he said the turnips were bitter.

But 3 CUPS family? That is a lot!

i know, i separate the beef stew, gave him some, kept some, that is a lot.

Wait, did you give him 3 cups of stew and he put some sugar in it, or did he put 3 cups of sugar in the stew that you gave to him?

he put 3 cups of sugar in his stew, not mine.

That will be inedible... I can see adding a teaspoon of sugar, but 3 cups? That's more than a recipe for candy!

Yes, that is a lot of sugar.

How did you like the turnips family? I don't think I've ever used turnips or parsnips in a stew. I'll have to try them. I can't make it always with just carrots and potatoes.

I have a ton of turnips out in the garden, but they aren't big enough yet. I used a rutabaga from the grocery store. Love them!

I use parsnips in soup all the time. Love it! I use turnips with daikon radish to make potato-less hash browns.

I like a tablespoon of molasses in my stew. It's delicious!

I thought about a rutabaga after I posted the above entry. I don't use them very often either and it would be a welcome change. My store has chuck roast on sale this week so I'm going to have to start planning.

I can see the bit of molasses in a beef stew... sounds like something I need to try! Going to try the "turnip" hash browns too. I love turnips and so does hubby. He is controlling his diabetes with diet alone and the sounds like something he'd like.

Add some onions to the hash browns and anything else you would normally add to them and they are delicious. I do it for the lower carbs too.

i divide the stew in 2 tupperware and kept one, and gave the other to my friend.

Who knew beef stew would be such a hot topic. I know I'm late to the partty, but wanted to share my way of making beef stew. I hate to cook, but I find beef stew to be one of the easiest dishes to prepare. I buy the cut up stew meat at the store. I brown the meat in oil or Crisco. Transfer the meat to a large pot, add beef broth (not boullion), onion, celery, parsley, and seasonings. I simmer on the stovetop for about two hours, check to see if meat is getting tender, and then add cut up potatoes and carrots and simmer until potatoes and carrots are cooked.

family - As far as your friend adding 3 cups of sugar to his portion of the stew, I think he must have been teasing you.

i saw him, he took the sugar container, pour the big hole in the tupper ware and stir, pour some more and stir, and then said it was fine now.

I would hate to have tasted that stew after he'd finished with it !!!!