One of my lovely blogging friends mentioned Cowboy Stew that she was making…
It sounded so good for a cold snowy day… and that’s just the kind of day we were havng! 
She was sweet enough to pass the recipe 
onto me…
This is the link to her posts…
http://freedanichols.wordpress.com/my-banner-mountain-2/
She writes the most wonderful poetry and talks of her life in the Ozarks in Arkansas… 
I had received a new crock pot for Christmas and have been wanting to try it out…
This was the opportunity… wanting to try this yummy sounding recipe!…
Cowboy Stew
Ingredients
1 tbsp margarine (butter)
1 lb ground beef (turkey)
1 onion, chopped
4 green onions, chopped (optional)
1/2 cup celery, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped
1/2 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 #303 can tomatoes (1 can rotel tomatoes)
1 16-oz. can whole kernel yellow corn
1 32-oz. can ranch-style beans
6 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 cups water (or enough to make sauce without scorching)
Directions
* Melt butter in 5-6 quart pot.
* Add ground beef and brown well.
* Add onion, green onions, celery, bell pepper, and garlic; saute with browned meat until soft.
* Add salt, pepper, chili powder, and sugar; stir in well.
* Add rotel tomatoes, corn, beans, cubed potatoes, and water.
* Stir all together and bring to a boil, stirring frequently to keep from scorching.
* Reduce heat and cover.
* Simmer until potatoes are soft (about 30-40 minutes).
COWBOY STEW
(Freeda Baker Nichols’ Variation)
1 tbsp. margarine
1 pound ground beef ( a little more than that)
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
I package McCormick Chili Mix, Original flavor
1 small can tomato sauce, unsalted
1 can (16 oz) ranch-style beans
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed ( small cubes)
3 cups water ( more, as needed)
Directions
* Melt butter in 5-6 quart pot.
* Add ground beef and brown well.
* Add onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic; sauté with browned meat until soft.
* Add salt, pepper, chili powder mix, stir in well.
* Add tomato sauce, beans, cubed potatoes, and water.
* Stir all together and bring to a boil, stirring frequently to keep from scorching.
* Reduce heat and cover.
* Simmer until potatoes are soft (about 30-40 minutes).
I made the original version… wanting everything in it!…
since I was going to make a big pot!… and figured we would eat on it a couple of days!…
It is a little spicy… just hot enough!… 
My guys loved it and so did I!…
More of a soup to me… would be awesome with Corn Bread 
…
but we ate it late tonight to taste it… so just had it all by itself… DELICIOUS!
Will bake some corn bread another time…
Thanks Freeda!
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Thank you, Marilyn! I’m so glad you liked the stew and yes, it does seem like a soup. I guess stew sounds more like what cowboys might eat. You can adjust the spice to suit your taste. I didn’t use the Rotel.
that’s probably what made it spicy…but, my guys loved it…and will have to make again I know…the same way!
I love that soup made over the fires camping!!! Yummy
It was really good!
That sounds delicious! I love the variation of chili that turns it into more of a soup. Sounds like what’s for dinner at my house later this week! ~ Sheila
it was quite delicious!
Since I don’t have a crock pot I wonder if I could use my small slow cooker. It sounds too good not to want to try. Of course I would have to make it less spicy.
same difference or just cook on top of stove…