A Giant Pot of Beef Stew

Is anyone else a fan of beef stew? It's November and I can't think of a better weekend comfort food! Friends from Alabama will be here tonight for the weekend so I wanted something that would make the house smell good, helping them to feel at home and relax a bit.

Probs just being the oldest of 9 kids, I get this job.... Don't be fooled. It's work. :p



15 lbs of potatoes - a big crowd to feed!

I am so good at making a huge mess of the kitchen. :P

In addition to the regular hearty beef version of the stew, I threw together a simple vegan version. And, if you're looking for a lower glycemic option than the potatoes - parsnips or turnips make great substitutes!

While I was preparing the stew my sister was juicing. :) You go, girl! 

For the vegan pot, I used this organic vegetable broth. Can't wait to try it this evening! Speaking of which - I should probably taste it before I serve it . . . always a good idea. :) 

I can laugh at myself now, but until about an hour ago I didn't know when the guests would be arriving. Would they be here at 12 noon or 6pm (that's a big difference!).

It was almost 1pm and there was still tons to do before the thought of guests stepping foot into the house would be a welcome one. At the same time, I was trying to figure out a way to fit in a workout and finally decided to just stop and hit the treadmill for a least a short 1 mile run. I am so glad I did! Stress relief? I think so. Muscles are made to move and exercise makes me feel better as a whole. :) I missed lunch, though, and was absolutely starving by 3 o'clock! But, the house looks great now and there's just enough time to spend some time on music practice before the friends arrive!

Happy Friday, peoples - enjoy your weekend! What do you enjoy for stress relief?