Healthy Autumn Stew Recipe

As the days of autumn grow shorter and the air turns colder, our thoughts tend to turn toward our favorite comfort foods. I always find myself drawn back to childhood. Coming in from school or playing outside to a house filled with the comforting aromas of dinner on the stove.

A favorite in our house was something we just called "Beef Stew". It was nothing fancy: meat, potatoes, onions and carrots. But it was satisfying and delicious. When these colder, shorter autumn days come around it's the first dish that comes to mind. I've changed it up over the years, adding some things to make it healthier and taking advantage of the availability of lower sodium products and the more heart healthy Canola oil, but it's just as satisfying and delicious as ever. Feel free to use regular or reduced sodium products as you desire.

*While some people feel that leaving stew ingredients in larger pieces makes a better presentation, I prefer to dice everything into very small pieces. It takes more time, but makes eating easier and allows you to get more flavor variety in every bite.*

Ingredients

¾ lb stewing beef

Enough Canola oil to lightly cover the bottom of a Dutch oven, about 2 Tbsp.

½ Tbsp. flour

1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets, Beefy Onion Flavor

32 oz reduced sodium beef broth

½ cup onion

2 potatoes

2 carrots

1 sweet potato

1 tsp fresh rosemary

½ cup green beans

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup frozen corn

1 can petite cut diced tomatoes

1 cup baby Bella mushrooms

1 Bartlett pear

Directions

Heat Canola oil in a Dutch oven. Add stewing beef. Brown slightly then add flour, stirring to coat until meat is thoroughly browned.

Add Beefy Onion Lipton Recipe Secrets, beef broth, onion, potatoes, carrots, sweet potato and rosemary. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.

Add green beans, peas and corn and return to a boil.

Add tomatoes, mushrooms and pear. Simmer about 20 minutes or until all the vegetables are tender.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Serve with crusty dinner rolls, your favorite chunky style cheese and apple cider.