Beef Stew

On May 8th, I made a crock pot meal.  In the weeks since, food has not been my friend and I've been avoiding it at all costs (that's not always a good thing.)  Thomas loved it and I may have loved it at a different time...

1/4 c flour
1 lb stew meat
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1 can diced tomatoes in juice (don't drain)
3 potatoes, diced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped onion
celery [didn't use]
1 garlic clove [didn't have, used garlic powder]
1 tsp dried thyme leaves [or Italian Seasoning]
chopped carrots

Combine 1/4 cup flour, salt, pepper in a resealable plastic food storage bag.  Add beef, close bag, and shake bag to coat the beef.  Place floured-covered stew meat in the crock pot. Add remaining ingredients.  Stir and cook on low for 8-12 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.

Before serving, turn slow cooker to high, combine a little flour (about 1 T) and water (about 2 T) and stir until a smooth paste.  Stir into the stew as as a thickener, cover and cook until desired consistency.

Recipe adapted from: Fix It Quick™ Favorite Name Brand™: Slow Cooker. "The Best Beef Stew".  Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, 2004. 112.

French Apple Cobbler

We have some Granny Smith apples on our counter.  Yesterday I thought, for fun, that I would make a cobbler.  I looked for a recipe online, found this one, and made it.  I like the idea of this cake topping.  It came out very sweet and the apples had a bit of a strange texture (I didn't peel them and I doubt that I cut them too small.)  Anyway, it was a nice change to have dessert.

Filling:
5 cups apples, peeled, sliced
3/4 cup sugar
2 T flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon [maybe make this 1 tsp?]
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract [maybe make this 1/2 tsp?]
1/4 cup water
1 T butter, softened

Topping:
1/2 cup flour, sifted
1/2 cup sugar [I wonder if 1/4 cup would be enough?]
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 T butter, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten

In a large bowl combine apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, and water.  Dump into a lightly buttered 9x9 square baking dish.  Pat cut-portions of butter on top of the apples, evenly. For topping, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter and egg.  Cream until smooth, using a wooden spoon.  Drop batter on top of the apple filling, distributing evenly throughout as it will meld together during baking.  Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until apples are done and crust is browned.  Serve warm with cream or ice cream.

Source: Rattray, Diana.  "French Apple Cobbler Recipe".  SouthernFood.About.com