Stew, the aroma can make your mouth water and encourage your appetite long before you sit down to the meal. From October until April, stews are one of the three main dishes that I prepare, along with soups and stir fries. I seem to have an “S” thing going here.

There are four basic stews that I prepare. They are, in no order of importance, beef, chicken, pork and vegetarian. There is a fifth but it is a spin off of the vegetarian stew, a tofu stew. I like the sound, tofu stew.

My favourite is beef stew and I believe that the reason for this is that it is the stew that was most likely to be found bubbling away on my mother’s stove. The smell brings back pleasant memories of childhood dinners and family conversations.

Often, I use my slow cooker to make stew, especially on days when I know that I am going to be busy and have little time to do the job right. I’ll prepare the vegetables, diced and sliced the night before and have them ready for the next morning when I put in all together.

Bob’s Beef Stew (for 2).

Equipment:

1- stew pot with lid.

1- stirring spoon

1- sharp knife

2- serving bowls

1- ladle

Ingredients:

1- 1 medium onion diced

2- 2 medium carrots sliced

3- 1 small turnip diced

4- ½ cabbage, finely sliced

5- 2 cups water or beef stock

6- ½ pound stewing beef cubed

7- Sea salt to taste

8- Black pepper to taste

9- 1 bay leaf

10- 1 tbsp olive oil

11- 2 cloves garlic finely diced (optional)

Preparation:

1- add olive oil to stew pot

2- turn burner on to high,

3- add garlic, onions, cook until beginning to brown

4- add beef

5- add bay leaf

6- cook until cubes are no longer red on outside

7- add water

8- add sea salt

9- bring water to boil

10- add turnips

11- add carrots

12- stir

13- cook 10 minutes

14- add cabbage

15- lower heat to medium

16- cook 40 minutes

17- add pepper if desired.

This stew can be eaten with hot sauce or HP sauce for example. Crusty rolls or French loaf go well. Serve with small green salad.

If you are making stew for more than 2 then be sure to add extra ingredients depending upon the number of people, for four people, for example, you will double the amount of beef and vegetables that you use.