The Slammin' Veggie Stew for the Protein-less diet

Lack of protein, yes.

Lack of taste? HELL NO!

1 small butternut squash – peeled sliced and cored

1 small acorn squash – peeled sliced and cored

1 can tomatoes, skinned and in juice

2 small can of tomato paste

2 zucchini – peeled

2 medium eggplants – peeled

2 cubes each of beef and chicken bullion

1 small container of diced mushrooms

2 small sweet potatoes – peeled and cubed

1 red pepper - chunked

1 yellow pepper – chunked

2 slices of a large Spanish onion – diced

4 – 6 cloves of garlic (to taste) – diced

4 teaspoons of olive oil

4 – 6 whole bay leaves

1 package fresh stew/soup herbs

1/2 small package of fresh rosemary

4 cups of water

To prepare:

The most time you’re going to spend in all of this is peeling, cutting and coring the two squashes. But, you want to make sure there are no seeds left over. We took the squash and sliced it and grilled it. The first go round, the pieces were too big and I would recommend halving them after grilling.

Take your sliced eggplant and do the same. We used a George Foreman grill, but a pan would be fine. If you don't have a Foreman, add two teaspoons of olive oil, in addition to the 4 listed, to use in the pan.

Take your peppers, your zucchini, and your sweet potatoes, all chunked and cubed, and put aside for now.

Take a medium saucepan, and your bullion cubes and make broth. When the water is boiling and your cubes dissolved, add in the herbs, 1 clove of diced garlic, and the tomato paste and stir. Once simmering and mixed, remove it from heat.

In a large (!!) stew pot, place the remainder of the garlic, the bay leaves, and your olive oil in the bottom of the pan. Add sweet potatoes, zucchini, onion, and peppers. Pour in half of the sauce. Add grilled squash and eggplant, along with the canned tomatoes. Add in rest of the sauce. Bring to simmer, stirring frequently. Once it’s simmering, put your top on the pot, reduce to low heat and cook for 30 – 40 minutes.

Let it sit for an additional 35 minutes off heat.

It will feed two people for about 4 dinners.

Enjoy.