Pumpkin-Beef Stew

Dinner in a Pumpkin, anyone? This seasonal favorite is great for a potluck dinner. Use a 10-12 pound pumpkin, and be sure not to over bake!

• 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 cup water
• 3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
• 1 sugar pumpkin

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Place beef in the saucepan and cook until evenly brown. Mix in the water, potatoes, carrots, green bell pepper, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer approximately 2 hours.
2. Dissolve the bouillon into the beef mixture. Stir in the tomatoes.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
4. Cut top off the pumpkin and remove seeds and pulp. Place the pumpkin in a heavy baking pan. Fill the pumpkin with the beef mixture. Brush outside of the pumpkin with remaining oil.
5. Bake in the preheated oven 2 hours, or until tender. Serve the stew from the pumpkin, scraping out some of the pumpkin meat with each serving.

How Kids Can Help:
Kids can help clean out the pumpkin, and dump ingredients.