Halloween Beef Stew

From Shelly: Here is a yummy beef stew recipe we love.

We like to have it at Halloween cooked in a pumpkin. The stew is best when cooked in a baking pumpkin (hollowed out), not a pumpkin you use to carve a Jack-o-lantern. Let simmer in a pot for awhile and then cook in the pumpkin at 350° for 30-45 minutes sitting on a cookie sheet covered in foil. 

INGREDIENTS 

2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with juice

1 cup water 

3 Tablespoons instant tapioca

1 Tablespoon beef bouillon granules

2 teaspoons white sugar 

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 

4 carrots, cut into 1inch pieces 

2 celery stalks, cut into 3/4 inch pieces

3 potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 onion, roughly cut

1 slice bread 

DIRECTIONS

To cook without a pumpkin: Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease 9 x 13 baking dish. 

To cook in pumpkin, follow directions at beginning of recipe. 

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the stew meat; drain and set aside. 

In a mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, water, tapioca, beef bouillon granules, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir in beef, all the vegetables, and bread cubes. Cook on stovetop for awhile if cooking in a pumpkin of pour into the prepared baking dish if not using pumpkin. Cover and bake for 2 hours, or until meat and vegetables are tender or follow directions for cooking in a pumpkin.