guinness irish stew

if you have read this blog more than a few times then you know i don't like stews or things cooked in the crock pot.. it's a texture thing.. well i had a hair appointment last night and knew i wouldn't have time to make dinner so i had to inlist the help of my trusty under appreciated crock pot.. i had been checking out pinterest and came across this recipe here.. and knowing i wouldn't be home until later and that left to their own devices pete and shell would eat ice cream for dinner i decided to make crock pot stew.. i stopped by the house on my way to my appointment and i have to admit the house smelled amazing and the stew didn't look revolting..(so i quickly took a few pictures knowing there wouldn't be enough when i got home to take better ones..) when i got home from my appointment pete was on his third helping and shell was on her second.. both declaring it the best stew they've ever eaten.. so i, feeling peer pressure, tasted some of it. and GUESS WHAT!!!!! i didn't like it! haha at least i keep trying..

prep time: 15 minutes
cooking time: 8 hours
servings: 4-6

ingredients:

2 lb. chuck roast, cubed
1 bag of the mini carrots, already peeled
1 large onions, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tblsp.garlic powder
1 tblsp. onion powder
1 tblsp. smokey paprika
3 russet potatoes, diced
1 cup beef broth
1 can guinness beer
1 six oz can of tomato paste
salt and pepper
olive oil

two twirls around a heavy bottom pan with olive oil over medium heat cook your cubed meat until brown.. add to your crock pot the potatoes, onions, carrots and garlic.. on top of that add the browned meat... in the pan you just cooked the meat in add about a 1/4 of a cup of guinness and deglaze the pan.. then add your tomato paste and cook for about 5 minutes, it make a dark thick sauce.. then add tomato mixture to the crock pot.. then add your beef broth and remaining can of beer, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper.. turn crock pot to low and cook for 8 hours.. serve in bowls with crusty french bread..