This crock pot beef stew is very easy to put together and you should have all the ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry.  The flavors of the red wine and mushrooms really gives this recipe its great taste so I encourage you to use the wine.  You can also use half and half of wine and beef stock if you prefer.

Turn on the crock pot to high and spray with some non stick spray .  Put the steak into the crock pot, add everything else except the mushrooms and then stir gently.  Put the lid on and turn the heat down to low and cook for 8 hours.   Add the mushrooms in the last 1/2 hour of cooking. You can thicken with cornflour or potato flour about the same time.  Remove the bay leaves from the crock pot before serving.  Oh, and I have forgotten that step once or twice and was the lucky one who got the crunchy bay leaf.

Serve this crock pot beef stew with rice or mashed potato and some peas, corn or other vegetables.   I must admit my favorite accompaniment with this crock pot meal  is sweet potato mash.  Serves 4

dice your vegetables

DO thaw out your meat and chicken before cooking.  It will then cook evenly and thoroughly.

DONT overfill the crock pot.  Only use to 3/4 filled.

Meat cooks faster than vegetables so DO dice your vegetables, onions can be grated.  I chop my vegetables finely and I find they cook just right.   With potato and sweet potato chop into small chunks but not as finely as carrots for instance.

DONT leave food in the crock pot to cool down.  Put it in another sealed contained and refrigerate as soon as possible.  If you have a removable crock this is easier to do.

DO keep your ingredients refrigerated until you are ready to use them.  This applies especially to meats and fish.

DONT look into the crock pot as you lift the lid.  Escaping steam may burn you. Lifting the lid will also add more cooking time to your recipe.  If you have to see how things are cooking or to adjust flavors then do so quickly and with care.

DONT use red kidney beans from their raw state in the crock pot.  Soak and boil first or use the canned ones.

DO follow recommended cooking times and the manufacturer's instructions.

DONT reheat food in the crock pot.

If possible DO add hot liquids instead of cold

If you follow these tips then you will be cooking safely with your crock  pot .  I think that the most important rule above is the one about not overfilling the crock pot so please take note of that one in particular.