Beef Stew in a Pumpkin

I only made this once last year, but you should have heard the ooohs and ahhs when I brought it to the table.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 (12 lb)  plump, very fresh pumpkin (with a wide, steady base)
• 4  tablespoons olive oil
• 2  lbs beef, cut in 1" cubes
• 2  tablespoons brandy
• 1  cup  coarsely chopped green onion
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped green pepper
• 3  cloves  minced garlic
• 3  cups  beef stock
• 1  cup madeira wine or 1  cup dry sherry
• 3  medium tomatoes, chopped
• 1  bay leaf
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon oregano
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1⁄2 lbs white potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
• 1 1⁄2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
• 1⁄2 lb zucchini, slices about 1/4" thick
• 1  cup corn
• 12 -14  dried apricots
• 12 -14  pitted prunes
• 1⁄2 cup margarine
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
• 3  tablespoons cinnamon
• 1  pinch ground cloves

Directions

1. Scrub pumpkin well.
2. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in 5 quart casserole over medium heat.
3. Add beef in batches to brown on all sides.
4. Warm brandy, ignite and pour over beef.
5. Transfer meat to platter and set aside.
6. In same casserole pot, combine oil, onion, green pepper and garlic, cooking over medium heat about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
7. Add stock and madeira and bring to boil.
8. Scrape sides and return meat and juices to pot.
9. Stir in tomatoes, salt, oregano, pepper, bay leaf, and cloves.
10. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook 15 minutes.
11. Add potatoes and cook 15 minutes more.
12. Stir in zucchini and cook 10 minutes more.
13. Add corn, apricots and prunes and cook another 5 minutes.
14. Keep stew warm on low heat while preparing pumpkin.
15. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
16. Cut pumpkin about 3 or 4 inches from top to form a lid and do not remove stem!
17. Scrape out seeds and string fibers from lid and base.
18. Brush melted margarine inside pumpkin and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
19. Replace lid and bake pumpkin in roasting pan about 40 minutes.
20. Pour juices from pumpkin into stew and stir well.
21. Place stew into pumpkin and bake about 15 minutes longer.