Cubed Steak Au Jus

I never even heard of cubed steak until I met Mike.  It came into my life in the form of country fried steak.  I just couldn't seem to get it tender enough though.  What to do? A-ha!  ALL meat comes out tender in the Crock Pot, so I experimented and came up with this recipe and now cubed steak has a special place in my heart and my stomach :)


Ingredients:

• about a 1 to 1 1/2  pounds of cubed steak
• one or two cups of beef broth
• 1 packet Au jus mix (I like McCormicks)
• 1 packet Lipton Onion soup mix

Spray the Crock Pot with cooking spray.  Put in the cubed steak.  Season with salt and pepper. In separate bowl or large Pyrex (or whatever) measuring cup, mix together beef broth, soup mix and Au jus.  Pour over the steaks and cook on Low for about 4-5 hours, depending on amount of steak and your brand of slow cooker.  1-2 pounds in my Rival CP are done in about 4 hours. 
To make a gravy, pour a cup or so of the beef broth (from the Crock Pot you just cooked the cubed steak in, the Au jus/soup mix gives it a delicious flavor) in a sauce pan on the stove.  Add more beef broth if you want more gravy.  To about a quarter cup of cold water, add 2 TBSP Wondra and mix well.  Add this to the beef broth in the sauce pan and stir until boiling, once it boils turn down to low and stir every few minutes.  I usually make either rice or smashed potatoes to go with this. 

* you don't have to use the onion soup mix if you don't want to
* you don't have to use Au jus either, I'm just telling you it tastes REALLY  
   good, more flavorful than just beef broth.
* I've used this recipe to make country fried steak with. Let the steaks sit
  out on a cutting board or whatever for a few minutes first, before
  battering and frying.