Old Fashioned Beef Stew

(again, with the no picture - lame - sorry!  gotta preserve access to the recipe, though!)

Recipe: (with my adaptations!)
(found this one at kraftrecipes.com)
2 lb boneless beef round steak, cut into 1 inch cubes (I just bought a pkg of stew meat - already chopped, yay!)
1/4 c KRAFT Light Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing
1 TBSP Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard (ok, didn't have this, used brown spicy mustard cause it is what was in my fridge - thought it was same thing, apparently not, hehehheee....worked ok, though!)
2 carrots, peeled, sliced (I just tossed in a handful or two of the mini-carrots I had in the fridge!)
1 large red potato, cut into 1 inch cubes (ok, I did a lot of potatoes!)
8 fresh mushrooms, sliced (yeah, totally skipped this!!)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained (I added another can of just regular diced tomatoes, because it seemed a little dry with all those extra potatoes (!!) and because that is what I had on hand...)
1/4 c flour
1/4 c water
1 pkg (12 oz) whole wheat egg noodles, uncooked (see below.......)


Heat nonstick skillet on medium-high heat.  Add meat, in batches; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until evenly browned, stirring frequently . Place in slow cooker.  Mix dressing and mustard; pour over meat.  Top with next 5 ingredients; cover with lid.  Cook on low 8 hours (or on high 4 hours), cooking noodles as directed on package for the last 15 minutes.  Mix flour and water; stir into meat mixture.  Cook, covered, 5 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened; stir before serving.  Serve over drained noodles.  (Ok, not entirely sure that the whole flour/water thing, and noodle thing ever happened - I tossed this in the crockpot on a day that I wasn't going to be home at night - they were on their own, and I'm pretty sure the noodle thing at least didn't happen!)

Approval Rating:
Meat & Potatoes - Man food, right?  What's not to like?  Smelled good - looked good - I was gone, didn't eat it....boys said it was good - Lynn said it was "overcooked" - of course, he got home late, so, you know.....  :)  Will make it again - super easy, and good comfort food!