Beer and Beef Crockpot

I am so far behind in my blogging! I've been working on creating Christmas cards and not working on my blog. Every year I get them in the mail so late. This year I told myself they're going out much earlier. The last few years I've blogged about each card as I made it. This year I'm getting them finished, in the mail and then I'm going to blog them. Less stress for me that way!

I found this recipe that I made last week on the blog Dee Dee's Delights. I've never cooked anything with beer, but I've always heard it makes everything taste fantastic! As a matter of fact, I can't stand beer. I despise the smell of it. I've also never had good experiences when I've had a beer as it always makes me sick. I couldn't even tell you when I last even had a sip of beer. All that aside, I was bound and determined to try this recipe.

I know so little about buying beer, I didn't even know if  you could buy one can. I found that I could, so I picked up a big honking 24 ounce can. I have to admit I felt a little odd going through the check out with my one can of beer. I actually felt like I needed to justify why I was buying it. I didn't want the check out person to think I was going to bust it open and chug it all the way home. So, I told her it was for a recipe I was trying. I also wasn't sure if I should use light or regular, so I went for the regular full-fat version.

We LOVED this recipe! We're definitely having it again.

Here are the steps:

Add your beer to the crockpot and then start preparing the beef.

Cube the beef.

Coat in flour.

Brown in half the butter.

Transfer beef to crockpot.

Melt the rest of the butter.

Saute the onions, garlic and tomato paste.

Add this onion mixture to crockpot.

Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Enjoy!

Beer and Beef Crockpot

2 cups beer
3 lbs boneless beef chuck roast
1/2 cup plain flour
2 -3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon tomato paste
cayenne (optional) or crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper

Add the beer to the crock pot, turn the control to high. Cut the beef into cubes, coat with the flour and brown in half of the butter, you might have to do this in batches. Transfer the browned beef to the crock pot.

Using the rest of the butter brown the onions, add garlic, tomato puree and cayenne if using. Add to the crock pot together with the bay leaves and salt and pepper. Now turn the crock pot to low and cook for 6 to 8 hours, until the beef is tender.

If you want to thicken the sauce add about 2 tablespoons of flour made into a paste, about 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, stir that in, you will have to turn the crock pot on high for this.

You can also find Dee Dee's Delights on Facebook.

On another note, I was lucky enough to attend one of the Taste of Home Cooking Schools last Monday! Yes, a week ago! I told you I'm behind in blogging! I've wanted to go to one of these since they started doing them. For one reason or another it just never worked out. Guy Klinzing was the Culinary Specialist and he's quite the entertainer. I went with four friends and we had fantastic seats! We sprang for VIP tickets and sat in the front row. They had so many giveaways and they plated all the food and gave it away. Unfortunately none of us won anything. Included in our VIP ticket however, was a cookbook. We felt so "special" because we were able to do a meet and greet with Guy and have our cookbooks signed! I'd definitely go to one of these events again, but if I never get the chance at least I can say I went to one.

This post is linked to these parties:  Mangia Mondays, Homemaker Monday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, A Marvelous Mess, Made By You Monday, Tasty Tuesdays.

Thanks for stopping by!