Vegetable Stew

Instructions

1. Wash the vegetables.
2. Cut them into large chunks or sections—quarters or sixths; mushrooms can be sliced, halved, or left whole.
3. Make enough pieces so that everybody will get some of everything.
4. Place the longer cooking vegetables into the bottom of a lightly oiled baking dish.
5. Add heated water or stock to the vegetables so that they are about half covered.
6. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
7. Bake the longer-cooking vegetables covered at 350°F (177°C) for about 30 minutes then add the shorter cooking vegetables and cook another 15 to 30 minutes or until all of the vegetables are fork tender.
8. Baste several times during baking. (If the dish is uncovered baste often).
9. If you are adding beet greens or spinach to the stew, add them for the last five minutes of cooking.
10. At the end of cooking, the water or stock can be drained off and made into gravy using it for the liquid in a brown sauce.
11. Check seasoning–add parsley or thyme if you like–and serve.