Bean Casserole Surprise

Surprise Parties are great for just about anyone's birthday or other celebratory event. On the downside you never know exactly when that guest of honor is going to walk in the door. Keep the food warm with this great Bean Casserole Recipe and put it in a crockpot.

1 lb stewing beef
3-4 cans French green beans
3 lb potatoes
1 tsp salt
1 beef bouillon cube (optional)
Spices: summer savory, salt, ground black pepper
some vinegar to season (optional)

Drain beans and use the liquid to boil the meat for about 2 hours at low heat. Add about 1 teaspoon of salt. You get a better stock when you put the meat in the cold liquid, heat to boil and then continue cooking slowly.

Peel potatoes and boil until done. You needn't add salt because the beef broth will be salty enough. Reserve the water as well; you may need it to add to the stew when it turns out to thick.

Take the meat out of the broth after two hours and cut it apart. You should add the lean parts to the stew. Now add the drained beans. Mash the potatoes and add them as well. When you are lazy you might use instant potato puree, but that's not quite as good as the real thing.

Heat the stew while stirring well. If you consider it too thick add a bit of the reserved potato water. Season to taste with savory, pepper and salt.

French cut green beans are really good in this recipe. It's basically a stew, but with only my fave things.