A Writer's Stew Pot

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Happy Valentine's Day!

It's January. It's cold. Even in central Georgia, which tends to be warm, it's chilly from the first of the year through March. You'd think being a writer and working from home means planning meals isn't a big deal, but no. Planning meals isn't easy no matter what your calling or title may be.

I am definitely one of those people who equates winter with soups and summer with salads. Stew? Meh. I wasn't much of a stew person growing up, but as you get older, sometimes your diet narrows, and that means opening up your mind to new ideas and menu items. For whatever reason, maybe it's the peas, stew never caught on with me, but this winter that changed.

Remember the old red and white Betty Crocker cookbooks? We received one as a wedding gift over 28 years ago, and it still gets used--often. Last fall I looked up the traditional recipe for stew and threw it in the crockpot, and everyone loved it. That's saying a lot for around here.

I have made this stew recipe several times over the past couple months, and it never disappoints. The meat to vegetable ratios are perfect, the spices just right, and the crockpot cooks everything super tender until it melts in your mouth. Of course, there have been a couple tweaks to make it even better. This recipe will stay on our menu for years to come, and I'm happy to share it with you.

If you're chilly, busy, tired, or fighting the winter blahs, pick up some meats and vegetables, and make this hearty stew for you and yours. Enjoy!

Stay balanced,
~Danielle Thorne~
www.daniellethorne.com