Hearty Beef Stew for Winter

I struggle with winter. Definitely struggle. I don't want to get out of bed because it is cold and dark. And I don't want to leave the house because I know my hands and toes won't be warm again for the rest of the day as soon as that cold air hits. As much as I would love to be a lazy homebody and stay in all day in these chilly months, we all know that's not realistic. Instead I opt for cooking to warm me up, and thankfully there are a few recipes that let me be a little lazy as well.

One of my favorites is a quick to prepare beef stew that is perfect for a hearty evening meal. I'm not a big fan of using the crock pot for everything as I think it tends to make things a little mushy. However, stew is one of those things that I definitely like to use it for. The end result is super moist beef and tender vegetables.

Ingredients
1 pound of beef (I get the pre-cut stewing beef at the grocery)
3 potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
2 carrots, cut into large chunks
1 stalk of celery, sliced
1 onion, cut into wedges
1 large can of whole cooked tomatoes
1/4 cup flour
2 cups vegetable or beef broth
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf

Directions
Wash and prepare vegetables. In a crock pot, mix beef cubes with flour, salt, and pepper until beef is fully coated. Add remaining ingredients to the crock pot and stir ingredients until well mixed. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.

What winter weather recipes have you been cooking lately?