RECIPE TWELVE: LEFTOVER STEW (˶ˆᗜˆ˶)

Note: This recipe is kind of advanced but also really easy because I have literally no measurements. I do whatever because there aren’t very many ways you can mess up a stew and there's tons of ways to do it. If you want to practice your improvised cooking, use this recipe! It’s ok if it doesn’t taste great at first. Also note that this is meant to be made with whatever is left in the fridge to get rid of leftovers.

Ingredients:

• ½-1 tablespoon butter OR oil
• Any of the following vegetables:
• Sliced carrots
• Sliced celery
• Chickpeas
• Beans
• Diced or sliced onions
• Peeled (optional) pre-cooked potatoes
• Peeled (optional) pre-cooked sweet potatoes
• Butternut squash, pre-cooked and cut
• Kale
• Peas
• Cauliflower, pre-cooked and cut
• Any of the following pre-cooked proteins (it’s best to choose 1, but you can use as many as you’d like):
• Shredded or cut boneless chicken
• Shredded roast meat
• Ground beef
• Any ground meat
• Stew meat
• Literally any meat that isn’t seafood or deli honestly. I wouldn’t recommend steak either.
• ½ teaspoon minced garlic OR jarlic OR a sprinkle of garlic powder
• Vegetable broth OR chicken broth OR any other broth
• Once of the following spice and liquid blends:
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• A sprinkle of sugar
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Hot sauce (optional)
• Tomato paste
• Tomato sauce


• ¼ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon coriander
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• 1½ teaspoons apricot jelly
• Tomato sauce


• 2 teaspoons flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
• Chicken broth OR beef broth OR veggie broth
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• Rice OR lentils (optional)

Directions:

1. Add butter into a small bowl-sized pot and turn the heat to medium-low.
2. While the stove is heating, chop all the fresh veggies you’d like up. Cutting guide is here.
3. Fill the pot ⅙-¼ of the way with all of the fresh veggies you would like.
4. Add a small amount of broth to the bottom of the pot and put on the lid. Lift the pot and stir occasionally. When the veggies have cooked and are tender, add in the pre-cooked veggies. Cook for about 5 minutes.
5. Add the meat to the pot and stir for another couple of minutes.
6. Add the mixture of spices and liquid to the pot and stir again.
7. Leave to cook with the lid on for at least 5 minutes (but can leave it however long you’d like).
8. Turn off the heat.
9. Get a spoon and eat it straight outta the pot!!