Pumpkin Stew (Cooked in the Pumpkin)

This smells so wonderful while it is cooking and makes a great presentation dish. Good comfort food for cold nights and kids think it's COOL!

• Ready In: 3 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 10 -12  lbs pumpkin
• 2  lbs beef stew meat
• 2  tablespoons  oil
• 1  bell pepper, diced into large pieces
• 1  onion, diced
• 4  medium potatoes, cubed
• 3  carrots, diced
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 2  stalks celery, diced
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 -3  cups water
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. Carve a hole in the top of the pumpkin; remove seeds and stringy inside, then set the pumpkin aside.
2. Brown the meat in a Dutch oven, then add all the cut up vegetables, salt, pepper, and water. Let simmer 1 hour.
3. Place pumpkin in shallow baking pan. Fill with the stew mixture. Brush the sides of the pumpkin with oil and cook on 350°F for 2 hours or until the pumpkin is tender. Serve.
4. Be sure to get chunks of pumpkin in your stew as you serve it--this enhances the flavor.