I have my new slow cooker, now all I need is ...

[hughjarssss]

A recipe for beef stew.

I have stewing beef, onions, carrots, leeks, mushrooms and swede.

can any help

Red wine, stock cube, tomato puree, water.

Do I brown the meat on the hob first?
Do I have to soften the veg?
How much stock?

I just bung it all in!

Meat in first, veg on the top, then the stock over it (just enough to cover the meat)

and you are away!

I would brown the meat first - gives it a nice colour, seals in the juices
I would also soften the veg - only a little bit but it does help
not need for the mush or leeks - unless you like the leeks with a little colour
liquid should just cover all the meat and veg - check through cooking as some will be absorbed by veg and don?t want any poking out the top to dry a bit

I browned the meat with some onion and garlic and added it to the slow cooker with mush. and leeks. Then I browned off the rest of the veg and added it. Covered it with stock - fingers crossed!

Thanks everyone

I didn't brown off the veg, I softened it obv.!