Pumpkin Cider Beef Stew Recipe- Served in a Pumpkin

I haven't had this much fun with a recipe in a long time! Earlier this week, it was our table's turn to cook for our MOPS group. I chose to do a recipe out of the cookbook our group is selling and I thought it would taste good with pumpkin, so I decided to serve Cider Beef Stew in a pumpkin. It was a hit! I know this sounds like a really strange recipe, but the flavors blend amazingly well. I actually used a leftover pot roast and oven roasted veggies, which made this recipe very simple. However, I'll go ahead and give you the basic stew recipe with just a few of my own variations/additions.

Cider Beef Stew Recipe:

3 Tbl whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 lb beef stew meat (bite sized)
2 T olive oil
1 c apple cider
2 cups water
1 Tbl apple cider vinegar
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 lg. carrots, sliced
2 ribs celery, sliced
2 potatoes, cubed
1 onion, chopped or wedged

In bowl, mix together flour, salt and pepper. Coat meat with this mixture and brown in oil in a stew/soup pot. Add cider, water, vinegar, thyme, garlic and bay leaf. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is tender. Add veggies, simmer and cover for another 45 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

To serve in Pumpkin:

Select a pumpkin that will fit in your oven, but big enough to hold a stew. Cut top open, at a slant going towards the stem (this will prevent the lid from falling in as it cooks). Scrape out pumpkin "guts". Put pumpkin (with lid on) onto a cookie sheet (I used a stoneware bar pan). Cook at 350 for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, keepin an eye on it towards the end. You can't over-cook it or the sides will collapse and then it obviously won't hold the stew. When you are able to scrape the insides, you know it is done enough. Take pumpkin out of oven. Scrape desired amount of pumpkin off the sides and then pour the stew into the pumpkin. Mix the scraped pumpkin and the stew together. Serve.

It's easy, tasty and festive all at the same time. Enjoy!