Alberta Beef Barley Stew

Ingredients

• 2  beef bouillon cubes 
• 1 pound beef stew meat cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2  carrots diced
• 2 stalks celery diced
• 1 ounce onion soup mix dry
• 2 tablespoons garlic minced
• 0.5 large onion diced
• 1.5 cups pearl barley 
• 3 large potatoes peeled cut into 1-inch cubes
• 6 cups water hot divided

Equipment

• bowl
• microwave
• slow cooker

Directions

1. Heat 2 cups water to boiling in a microwave-safe bowl, about 2 minutes. Stir beef bouillon cubes and onion soup mix into boiling water until dissolved.
2. Pour bouillon mixture and remaining 4 cups water into a slow cooker; set cooker on High. Stir beef, potatoes, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic into the slow cooker.
3. Cook, covered, until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, 4 1/2 to 5 hours. Stir barley into beef mixture; continue cooking until barley is tender, about 30 minutes.
4. Turn slow cooker off, remove cover, and allow to cool until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.