Harvest Stew

This recipe was inspired by a variation on Shepherd’s Pie in Eating Well Magazine. They substituted mashed squash for the potatoes, and spinach for the peas. I liked the new ingredients, but didn’t like the pie’s texture, nor the fact that it used too many pans. (I wash dishes by hand & always take this into account.) I wondered if I could make a one-pot recipe with a similar flavor profile that hopefully tasted even better. I substituted ground bison for the beef (one of my favorite meats), chunks of butternut squash for the squash puree (more flavor & lovely texture), real garlic instead of powdered (obviously) & chose a tomato-broth base. The result is a simple stew that takes less than an hour to make from start to finish, and although the ingredient list is short, is full of flavor. A couple of tips: if you don’t make your own vegetable broth, get a jar of Organic Better than Bouillon – it makes a quick & flavorful broth. Also, if the thought of peeling a butternut squash makes you wince, buy yourself a Kuhn Rikon Swiss Peeler. It glides over the curves of the squash with ease & it will change your life! (Or at least be the best $5 you ever spent.)