season then Brown your meat in some olive oil

Take it out

cook some onions

throw your meat back in along with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, kumara, pumpkin, mushrooms (anything),

add some stock (vege, chicken or beef)

throw in a can of tomatoes

bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer for 2-3 hours (not to critical)

near the end I throw in a can of beans (kidney, cannelini etc).

Basically you could do anything with this.  the main thing is brown your meat first (makes it tastier).  You can add tomato paste, worstershire sauce, tomato sauce, bbq sauce etc for  extra flavour.  I often add some red wine before the stock and let that sizzle.

It is really yummy.  If you think the sauce is to runny, roll some butter in flour and throw that in....it will thicken it a little without it going lumpy.

I do this in a big stove top casserole pot as the slow cooker is too slow( naturally) and I dont get around to starting till its too late.