Hearty Beef Stew

A homey, comforting, very respectable stew which utilizes an interesting technique to prevent the whole business from becoming a homogenous mush. The BEST thing about using a slow cooker is walking in the door at the end of the workday and having the smell of a delicious dinner greet you with the reminder that "oh yeah, I already made dinner. Whatever will I do with that extra hour now?" The thyme was so powerful when I came in I was afraid it would overwhelm the stew. It didn't. Proceed with confidence.