Nothing is better than a hearty bowl of slow-cooker beef stew on a fall or winter day. It’s the type of meat-and-potatoes recipe I crave when I want a warm dish that won’t weigh me down.

Open a bag of washed, ready-to-eat salad to go with the stew. Any type of quick cooking steak such as tenderloin, sirloin or skirt can be used. 4 crushed garlic cloves can be used instead of ...