Any time, is a great time to use your slow cooker, and with the cooler weather it's time to enjoy stews again. This hearty beef barley stew is sure to hit the spot with you and your family. It's a delicious one pot meal that contains all the important food groups; vegetables, meat and whole grains. Serve with some whole grain buns or bread to soak up the juice, for a quick and easy dinner.

Ingredients:
2 lbs. cubed stew beef
2-3 carrots (thinly sliced)
2 celery ribs (thinly sliced)
1 large onion (diced)
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes
3/4 cup barley
1 teaspoon Watkins basil
1 teaspoon Watkins black pepper
5 cups hot water
5 teaspoon Watkins beef soup base
1-2 teaspoons Watkins grapeseed oil

Directions: Pre-heat a heavy bottomed skillet or cast iron fry pan, add grapeseed oil and cubed beef, brown meat on all sides over high heat. Place carrots, celery and onion in slow cooker container and place browned beef on top. Combine water, undrained tomatoes, barley, basil, pepper and soup base; pour over top of beef and vegetables. Cover and cook on low for approximately 8 hours or until meat and vegetable are tender.

Tip: If you have a large slow cooker, make extra to freeze for another meal.

You'll find the best tasting, quality spices and beef soup base in the Watkins US catalog or the Watkins Canadian catalog.