Crockpot awesomeness and more

So the CrockPot stroganoff worked out well. I didn't want to overcook the meal, so I bought an appliance timer at my local Target, so the CrockPot turned on at 10 am and cooked until 6 pm when I arrived home to rescue said stroganoff. The recipe is from the fabulous slow cooker cookbook that Elle provided. although slightly altered.

Brown 1 1/2 pounds stew meat in a skillet with a bit of oil. Meanwhile, chop an onion and 8 oz of mushrooms and place in the Crock. Add a few chopped garlic cloves, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp thyme, salt, pepper, and 2 bay leaves. Add about 2 c beef broth, a splash of wine or brandy if you have it, then add the browned meat. Give a good stir. Cook on low 8 hours. At the end of the cooking time, mix 1/3 c flour with 8 oz. sour cream and a splash of water in a bowl. Add 1 c of the hot cooking liquid to the sour cream mixture and mix thoroughly. Add the sour cream mixture back to the Crock, turning the heat up to High for about 20-30 minutes. Serve over noodles or rice.

R enjoyed it, but suggested that we should add more wine and cut back on the sour cream, and then I pointed out that then we're making a poor man's version of Beef Bourgignon, as opposed to stroganoff. We like wine. :)