Beef stew is one of the oldest recipes in the world.  Ever since people have figured out how to make a pot and put it over a fire they have been throwing in whatever else they could find to make food.  Beef stew can be very nutritious and healthy dependent on what you put in the stew.  Making stew is a slow and patient process that rewards you for investing the time in letting it cook for hours.
Stew is usually dependant what you put in it and where you live.  The reason it is called beef stew is because the main protein of the stew is beef, sounds simple I know.  The other ingredients are anything you feel like adding.  Below is a wonderful slow cooker beef stew recipe that will taste great while being only a couple hundred calories per serving.  Different styles of stew are made in different regions of the world.
Traditional American stew is made with tougher cuts of meat like spare rib or a shoulder cut of meat.  The reason tougher meat is used is so that the juices can soak in longer and create a more succulent and tenderized meat at the end.  In Texas, you will find some tomato based stews, though they are usually called beef chili and make use of beefsteak as the protein.  In Kentucky, they created an easy beef stew that was called Burgoo.  Burgoo was born out of necessity, cooking up pretty much anything they can find, but now it usually uses ground beef as the primary protein.
When making your beef stew recipe, the most important ingredient is patience.  The tougher meat cuts require the slow heat over hours so that the meat remains succulent and juicy.  The texture and flavor will only be enhanced the longer you let the stew cook, especially if you pick a slow cooker beef stew recipe.  Some people like to think of stews as a peasant food and that it will always have a boring and simple taste, but a well made stew can rival the flavors of any regal meal.
A beef stew crock pot recipe, like the one below, are healthy and filling meal that will warm the heart and soul on a cold evening.  Take your time though when preparing it, try making it in the morning or afternoon and letting it simmer for until dinner time.  A lot of patience is needed and don’t be in a rush to get the stew done.  Beef stew is a tradition that will always have the warm welcome of home and bring a smile to everyone’s face.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

• 1 lb. top round steak, cut in 2 inch cubes trim well
• 1 tbsp. canola oil
• 1 sm. onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. marjoram
• 1/2 c. dry red wine
• 1/2 c. low sodium V8 juice

Brown beef cubes until well brown, sauté onions until soft, put all the ingredients together, bring it to a boil, then lower to a simmer, cover and let it cook.

Bon Apetite!