Stew

2 lb stew meat, roast beef, or hamburger
1-2 tbsp minced dried onions
5-7 potatoes
2 lb carrots
1 can diced tomatoes
1 pkg beef gravy mix (makes 3 1/2 c size), made according to directions
salt to taste (it really depends on what gravy mix you choose)
pepper to taste
bay leaf (opt)

Cook beef, onions, bay leaf, and tomatoes (undrained) in crock pot 4 hrs on high or until done (however done you like it). If you used roast or burger, break it into bite-sized chunks. Wash and cut potatoes into bite-sized chunks. Peel and cut carrots into 1" pieces. Boil potatoes and carrots together for 10 minutes or until fork-tender but not mushy. Make gravy according to package instructions (I use the potato water because it's already hot and to capture any vitamins that might have boiled out). Stir veggies and gravy into meat and heat in crock pot until time to serve.

Alternately: Toss everything into the crock pot raw and uncooked, spread 8 oz tomato sauce over the top (to keep the potatoes from becoming discolored) and cook 4-5 hours on low or 8-12 hours on high, until everything is fork-tender.

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