Beef Stew in a Pumpkin

• beef stew meat↗2 lbs

  cut into 1 inch cubes

• vegetable oil↗3 tablespoons

  divided

• water↗1 cup
• large potatoes↗3

  peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes

• medium carrots↗4

  peeled and sliced

• large green pepper↗1

  cut into 1/2 inch pieces

• garlic cloves↗4

  minced

• medium onion↗1

  chopped

• salt↗2 teaspoons
• pepper↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• beef bouillon granules↗2 tablespoons
• diced tomatoes1 (14 1/2 ounce) can

  undrained

• pumpkin1 (10 lb)

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   In a Dutch oven, brown meat in 2 tablespoons oil.

2. 2

   Add water, potatoes, carrots, green peppers, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper.

3. 3

   Cover and simmer for 2 hours.

4. 4

   Stir in bouillon and tomatoes.

5. 5

   Wash pumpkin; cut a 6 to 8 inch circle around top stem.

6. 6

   Remove top and set aside; discard seeds and loose fibers from inside.

7. 7

   Place pumpkin in a shallow sturdy baking pan.

8. 8

   Spoon stew into pumpkin and replace the top.

9. 9

   Brush outside of pumpkin with remaining oil.

10. 10

    Bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours or just until the pumpkin is tender (do not overbake).

11. 11

    Serve stew from pumpkin, scooping out a little pumpkin with each serving.