Crockpot/Slow Cooker Beef Stew

I've made this more than once on a Sunday afternoon. The measurements are pretty loose but it always turns out absolutely delicious. Plus, the aroma of beef stew makes the house seem all the more cozy on a winter weekend afternoon.

Layer scrubbed and cubed potatoes and carrots in the bottom of your slow cooker. I like using the Yukon gold small potatoes. Add a sliced onion, if you wish.

On top of the vegetables, place about 1.5 pounds of round steak, cut into large chunks. 

Sprinkle a package of dry onion soup mix over the top.

Pour one 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes over the top. Then add one tomato can full of water.

Sprinkle one tablespoon of paprika over the top.

Cover and cook for 5-6 hours on high, or 8-10 hours on low. 

Stir only once, about halfway through the cooking time.

I served it with some fresh bread. (Freshly made from frozen bread dough, anyway.) Yum! 

Hope you enjoy!

Baked Pita Chips

Thanks, Lauren and Dylan, for sharing this pita chip recipe! Very easy and quick to make, and delicious. Go ahead and substitute any spice you'd like. The original recipe (below) is from the magazine "Real Simple." I used whole wheat pitas and a chile lime spice mix. We enjoyed them today with guacamole, but they would be good with any kind of dip or hummus.

Easy Pita Chips

4 pitas

1/4 cup olive oil or canola oil

1/2 cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces)

1 tsp. dried oregano

Salt and black pepper

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Split the pitas horizontally to make to make 8 rounds. Brush the insides of the pitas with the oil. Cut the rounds into wedges and divide between 2 baking sheets.

Sprinkle with the Parmesan, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bake until golden brown and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. The chips can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Apple Crisp II

Apple Crisp is the sort of dish that you really can't mess up. Pretty much any combination of apples, sugar, butter, and a little cinnamon, will produce a delicious dessert, especially when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

This recipe is all over the internet, with many variations. Go ahead and play with it and make it your own, adjusting the ingredients as you please. I must admit that it's the real butter that makes this so tasty, so go with the real thing here.

Apple Crisp

4 cups medium tart cooking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (4 cups) (I used Macintosh)

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup butter

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place apples evenly in an 8-inch square baking dish OR a 7x11 baking dish. 

Combine sugar, flour, oats, and spices. Cut in butter with a knife or pastry blender. Sprinkle over apples.

Bake about 40 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender.