Name: Absent Cook Stew
Ingredients: 2 lbs cubed stewing beef; 2–3 carrots, sliced; 1 onion, chopped; 3 large potatoes, cubed; 3 ribs celery, sliced; 1 can tomato soup; 1 can water; 2 Tbsp vinegar

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The slow cooker arrived in American kitchens in the early 1970s and was embraced with particular enthusiasm in communities where women worked outside the home and still needed to put a hot dinner on the table. Patty Hykes's collection of slow cooker recipes reflects a practical, resourceful approach to feeding a family — the kind of cooking that asks the stove to do the work while life happens.

Ingredients

2 lbs cubed stewing beef
2–3 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
3 large potatoes, cubed
3 ribs celery, sliced
1 can tomato soup
1 can water
2 Tbsp vinegar

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 10–12 hours.

💡 Tip: A true "set it and forget it" recipe — perfect for busy days.