Ultimate Beef Stroganoff

I know I sound like a broken record, but you’re gonna have to get used to it: this is another great recipe from My Kitchen Cafe!  I’m actually starting to wonder why I even have a food blog because I’m just stealing Mel’s recipes and putting them on my own!  Well, at least you know when I post them they have been approved not only by her family but mine so you can probably trust that it’s gonna be good.

Not only was this delicious, it’s so easy!  I love preparing meals in the crockpot because after coming home from work,  the last thing I want to do is start dinner.  Usually I’m starving and just want to sit down and eat.  This meal is perfect for career-women and Moms.  And just anybody that loves an easy and delicious meal!  Slow-cooking the meat makes it super tender and it practically melts in your mouth.  Scanning the ingredients, I thought it sounded too simple to be very impressive but it just goes to show that sometimes simple is best!

THE ULTIMATE BEEF STROGANOFF
Printable recipe

Put in crock pot:
2-3 pounds stew meat
1 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
1 onion, sliced

Mix in a bowl and pour over meat:
¼ tsp. garlic salt
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ cups beef broth or stock (made up from cubes or granules)
1 tablespoon ketchup

Cook in crockpot on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. When cooked make a simple roux by whisking 1/3 cup flour with enough apple juice (about 5-6 tablespoons) to make a thick but still pourable flour mixture. Whisk the roux into the crockpot and add 4 ounces sliced mushrooms.

Cook on high for 15-30 minutes. Then stir in ½ cup sour cream. Serve over pasta, rice or baked potatoes.

*Freezable Meal: The leftovers of the stroganoff can be frozen. Mel stores the leftovers in a freezer-safe container and then thaws in the refrigerator (usually takes about a day) and reheat over medium-low heat in a saucepan on the stove.

Veronica’s Notes: I didn’t have apple juice so I just used water for the roux.  Though it didn’t seem to suffer for it, I hate that I might have missed out on the full flavor experience so next time I will be sure to have apple juice! I also used a ton of mushrooms (four times what’s called for) because I had a ton of mushrooms and didn’t want them to go to waste.  Still tasted good!  So if it bothers you to only use half of an 8-oz container, go ahead and put the whole thing in. Lastly, if you’re wondering about those fabulous fat noodles that look homemade, they are Essenhaus Amish Country Kitchen Extra Wide Homestyle Noodles.  I found them on the bread aisle in the grocery store.  You can purchase them online here or use their store locator to see if they are sold near you.

Recipe source: My Kitchen Cafe