Banana Peppers

• To make slow-cooked beef with banana peppers, use fresh peppers -- not marinated or pickled peppers. A type of sweet pepper, the banana pepper is a close cousin to the more familiar red and green bell peppers. For the best quality, look for fresh, firm, brightly-colored, shiny peppers, available year round in the produce area of most supermarkets. To prepare a fresh banana pepper for cooking, rinse it thoroughly, then cut it in half lengthwise. Pull out the stem, then remove the seeds and white ribs with your fingers or a paring knife. Cut the halves into 1/4- to 1/2-inch strips, then line up the strips and cut them into squares.

Steak or Burger

• Make slow cooker beef with ground beef, or cut steak into cubes measuring about 1 1/2 inches. Although sirloin steak is tasty, any type of steak, including round or flank steak, is tender, juicy and flavorful in the slow cooker. Brown the ground beef or steak cubes in a skillet with a small amount of oil until the ground beef is no longer pink. Cook steak until the meat is brown on all sides. Add chopped onion or minced garlic to the skillet, if you like.

Putting It Together

• Place the browned meat in the slow cooker, then pour in a liquid like beef broth and a tomato-based product such as chopped tomatoes, tomato soup or a small can of tomato paste. At this point, you can adapt the dish to suit your tastes. Season the dish with salt and pepper, then add a small amount of cumin or cayenne pepper, if you like. If you prefer a spicy dish, stir in chopped jalapeno peppers. A small amount of sherry, mustard, Worcestershire or soy sauce adds extra flavor. Cook the dish on low for seven to eight hours, or until the beef is tender. Add the chopped banana peppers during the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking time.

Slow Cooking in a Dutch Oven

• To slow cook the beef dish in a Dutch oven, heat a small amount of oil in the pan, then brown the ground beef or steak. Saute chopped onion or garlic with the meat, if you like. Add the liquid and seasonings, then cover the Dutch oven and cook the dish on low or medium-low for eight to nine hours, or until the meat is tender. Check the dish occasionally and add extra liquid if the mixture is too thick. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook the freshly chopped banana peppers during the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking time.