Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Yum! This takes like 2 seconds to make and is really yummy (okay, so it took me 20 minutes, but I was REALLY groggy and slow that morning). The first time I made it was on one of those Wicked Cold Boston nights, and we were almost crying for joy when we came home and had this fantastic stew waiting for us.

Serves 4 - 6
2 pounds beef stew meat (any cheap beef cut into cubes)
¼ cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 clove garlic, or about 1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ cups beef broth
1 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
3 potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
4 carrots, cut into bite-sized pieces

If you want the meat to retain more of it's moisture, you can brown all sides in a little oil, but this is NOT necessary. If you don't brown it, it'll just be a little dryer. Put the meat in the slow cooker. In a small bowl mix the flour, salt, pepper, and paprika. Pour over meat and stir well to coat. Sprinkle in everything else. Cover and cook on Low 10 – 12 hours or High 4 – 6 hours. Wonderful!

- Robyn Seely, from AllRecipes.com