Delightfully Lazy – Beef And Broccoli Slow Cooker Supper

Before getting into today’s recipe, I want to take a moment to wish my soul mate a wonderful birthday. He is my rock, my best friend and the love of my life. If you are interested in knowing what wonderful things I have planned, be sure to check out Spicing Up a Birthday Party Fiesta Style! All his favorites with a Mexican flare. Hubby loves his Mexican Food, I’m a big fan of all things Italian and Kiddo – he likes just about everything. One thing we all agree on is Asian. Yum!

It dawned on me, especially since posting my Mom’s Basic Fried Rice with a Dash of Tagalog that we are big rice-eaters, too. I guess childhood tastes do not necessarily change. Oh sure, we grow and expand our culinary habits, but the basics of childhood stay with us through the years. We love our rice. We also adore dishes with an Asian flair. While not all our “Asian” cuisine is truly Asian, the influence is clearly present.

When Kiddo made the big cross-over from grammar school to middle school, we went out for lunch after the ceremony to “celebrate” the event.  It was Kiddo’s choice. While other fifth graders were dining that afternoon on pizza or burgers, Kiddo chose to go to our usual Chinese Restaurant and ordered all of his favorites.

Kiddo’s always marched to a different drum. On his 21st birthday, instead of celebrating with a six-pack or heading to a bar to hit the hard stuff, he asked us to take him to an upscale Steak House. He wanted a well-prepared Filet Mignon and to show off his knowledge by selecting a good Merlot. That’s our kid – no doubt about it!

This Beef and Broccoli dish is so flavorful – the beef fork tender, the broccoli tender-crisp.  A mound of rice swimming beautifully in a sea of temptation – the awesome sauce. This dish is perfect for a lazy weekend when you want to have a great meal but don’t want to spend the day in the kitchen slaving away. It’s a big hit with my guys – I hope it becomes a favorite in your house, too.

Beef And Broccoli Slow Cooker Supper
4 lbs sirloin steak, sliced thin
Pepper to taste
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 cup beef broth
1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
4 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons water
1 head of broccoli, cut into florets
2 Tablespoons Sesame Seed, for garnish
2 Cups Cooked Rice for serving

Lay sirloin steak on a cutting board and cut against the grain into thin strips. Season lightly with a little pepper and set aside.

Peel and mince garlic, set it aside.

Heat a large non-stick pan or wok over medium-high heat with just a little Sesame Oil. Once the pan is hot, flash sear the strips of beef. (May be done in two batches if necessary. – If in batches, remove first batch with a slotted spoon, leaving pan drippings in place).

While the meat is searing, place beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic and ground ginger into the crock pot. Give the pot a quick stir to combine everything.

Add seared meat and all the pan drippings into the crock pot. Toss meat in the liquid to coat.

Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook for an additional 3 hours.

After 4 hours of cooking, whisk together cornstarch and water in small bowl. Pour into crock pot and stir with a wooden spoon to mix well.

Break up the broccoli into just slightly larger than bit-size chunks. Add the broccoli to the slow cooker and gently stir to combine. Cover with lid and cook 30 minutes longer, until broccoli is tender and the sauce has thickened.

To serve: Using a small bowl, push a serving of rice into the bowl. Invert onto individual plates. Ladle beef and broccoli alongside the mound of rice. Sprinkle each serving of beef with a little sesame seeds, serve and enjoy!

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Original source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/iristian/this-slow-cooker-beef-and-broccoli-is-the-perfect-dinner-for?bffbtasty=undefined&utm_term=.djoMABALw5#.jpe6eGeDJ9