This might be the simplest beef stew recipe in existence.. I served this to the in laws and 2 of the 4 went back for seconds and that was fantastic. I was really worked up and worried about if they would like it, I still feel the need to impress when it comes to my cooking. I don't care what people think of me as a rule. But when it comes to my cooking i freak when I'm feeding people. "What if they hate it", "what if they say its good only because they have too?" what if they all get food poisoning and die"// You know.. Your typical concerns about such things... Well that was not the case today.. They seemed to love it... Here is the recipe..

Oven beef stew

I cooked this in my cast iron skillet and I think the cast iron really makes a difference... That said, you can use any dishes you want...

I used 2 lbs stew beef meat (you can use whatever)

I browned the ground beef in butter on the stove top with some garlic, salt, and pepper,

once the meat had browned I added my onions, potatoes, and carrots, in a separate bowl I mixed 1 packet ranch dressing powder, 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 cup Marsala cooking wine, 1/2 cup black coffee, 1 can Campbell's golden mushroom soup, 1 can beef consomme, a little salt, and pepper, I put this in the oven and cooked covered on 350 degrees for 2 1/2 hours... (three hours would have been great but I didn't have that long and 2 and 1/2 was sufficient.. and that is all... The in laws went back for seconds, told me what good cook I was, and vowed to go and buy themselves a cast iron skillet.. This recipe will work in any oven safe dish, or even in a slow cooker tho cooking time make vary...

Let me know what you think...

Recipe

2 lbs stew beef
1/2 stick butter
1 can Campbell's beef consomme
1 can golden mushroom
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 packet ranch dressing powder
1/2 cup black coffee
1/2 cup Marsala cooking wine
salt. pepper, and garlic to taste
4 or 5 red potatoes unpeeled
1 white onion
handful of baby carrots


preheat oven to 350
melt butter in skillet and brown stew beef meat with salt and pepper and garlic
when meat is browned add onions, carrots, potatoes,

in a separate bowl mix consomme, ranch dressing packet, Worcestershire sauce, Marsala cooking wine, black coffee, golden mushroom soup, and pour over meat and veggies

cover with a lid or tin foil and cook in oven at 350 for 2 and 1/2 to 3 hours.. (three is better if you have that kind of time.)

That is all there is too it...