Do You Dutch Oven?? - Easy Beef Stew

It is officially winter here in Green Country.  With the cold snap we've had this week....highs in the 20's and morning lows of 7 - 11 degrees are pretty darn chilly to say the least. 

I normally love winter but for some reason for the first time in.....I don't know.....ever...I can't get fired up about it.  But there is hope!  Because I am free to cook whatever I wish to keep the chill away....and what would that be you say??   Well beef stew of course.....

Ingredients:

• 1 Dutch Oven - 12" or 6 qt pot
• 20+ charcoal briquettes
• 2 lbs beef steak - cubed
• 16 oz stewed tomatoes
• 16 oz baby carrots
• 2 lbs new potatoes - assorted
• 2 large onions - quartered
• 1 cup green bell pepper - chopped
• 1 green onion - chopped
• 3 celery stalks - chopped
• 1 - 2 large cauliflower heads - cut into bite size pieces
• Double handful of baby carrots
• 16 oz. white wine
• sliced mushrooms of choice
• Seasoning Salt to taste

For ease of cooking...light charcoal briquettes while you are doing your dicing and chopping.  When coals begin to ash over...they are ready.

A little white wine in the pot....oh yes!

Put olive oil in the bottom of your dutch oven and brown your cubed steak.  Add seasoning salt at this time.I prefer to have mine just starting to get dark around the edges.  When meat is done, drain any excess fat and return to heat...adding white wine and let simmer for a few mintues.

Add stewed tomatoes, carrots, and all other vegetables except for the mushrooms....saving them for the last 20 minutes or so of cooking.  You will want to add water to the pot where everything is just about covered. 

Cover and adjust heat to a good simmer and let cook for 2 to 2.5 hours.  Adding the mushrooms on the top near the end.  I like a little more fire in my stew but this was made for some not so spicy tastebuds...Enjoy!!

This post is part of the following blog carnivals.....Go check out these great sites!!

Hearth 'n Soul hop
Gluten-Free Wednesdays

Pennywise Platter Thursday

Recipe Swap Thursday