Courtney's "picky Eater's Special" Stew

I'm a pretty picky eater, and even more so when I was a kid. This is a stew my mom made that I was guaranteed to eat every time. There is nothing in this even the pickiest eater could object to. Also, it's really easy. Darn near impossible to screw up (as long as you don't accidentally scorch it trying to cook it too fast.) I doubled this recipe and fed a couple dozen Civil War reenactors with it, and it went over great. My mom started adding other things once I got out of the house (corn and I don't know what all), but with or without extras, it tastes really good the first day, even better the second day, AND it freezes well. (I suspect this could also be made in a crock pot, but I haven't actually tried it that way. I'm afraid of scorching it.) You can add more or less potatoes & carrots; these numbers are just estimates. What more could you ask for?

• Ready In: 3 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 1 (46 ounce) can tomato juice
• 1  lb lean ground beef
• 1  lb carrot
• 6  medium white potatoes
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. brown and drain ground beef.
2. peel and slice carrots (into round pieces).
3. Peel and cut potatoes into chunks (smaller chunks take less time to cook).
4. Add meat, carrots, and potatoes to tomato juice in a large pot.
5. Cook on low for at least 2-3 hours, longer if the potatoes and carrots aren't cooked through.