On the menu: Beef Stew with Butternut Squash, perfect meal for a winter night :-)
Most stews are easy, it doesn't take a lot of time to prepare, you can just put the ingredients into a slow cooker and forget about it for a few hours. The ingredients are simple and cheap, and can be found at any major grocery store.
The ingredients for the stew:
1. 1 lb. beef chuck roast- $5.99 at Smith's
2. 2 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour- $0.00, got from my pantry!
3. 2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil- $0.00 (pantry)
4. 1 lb. russet potatoes- $0.85
5. 1 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-in. pieces (about 2-1/2 cups)- $1.25 at Sunflower's Market
6. 1 onion- cut into wedges- $0.00 (pantry)
7. 2 cloves of garlic- minced- $0.00 (pantry)
8. 1 14-oz can of beef broth- $0.99
9. 1 cup vegetable juice- $2.50 (I had to buy a whole bottle)
10. 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce- $1.75
11. 1 Tbsp lemon juice- $0.00 (fridge)
12. 1/2 tsp sugar- $0.00 (pantry)
13. 1/2 tsp paprika- $1.50
14. 1/4 tsp black pepper- $0.00 (pantry)
15. 1/8 tsp ground allspice- $1.75
16. 1 package (or can) of green beans- $0.75
Makes 6 servings.
Need:
Slow cooker- borrowed from my moms :-). BUT, she bought it at Macy's for only $16.99 so it's very affordable. And, its worth it since you can use it for a lot of things.
Directions:
1. Cut the meat into 1-in pieces and trim off any fat. Place four in a large resealable bag, add a few pieces of meat at a time, and shake to coat. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add meat and cook until brown. Drain off any fat.
2. In a slow cooker, combine meat, potatoes, squash, onions, and garlic. In a large bowl, combine broth, vegetable juice, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, sugar, paprika, pepper, and allspice. Pour over meat mixture.
3. Cover and cook either on low-heat setting for 10 to 12 hours or on high-seat setting for 5 to 6 hours.
4. Add in green beans for the last 15 minutes of cooking.
This meal calls for an extensive list of ingredients, however, it only cost me $16.08. This is a pretty cheap for a meal for two people. Also, I can use most of these ingredients again for other things. There were still plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day! Beats going to McDonald's by a long run :)
