As mentioned yesterday, I went through my Once A Month Cookbook and this is our recipe for dinner tonight.

Hearty Hamburger Tomato Stew

1 pound lean ground beef or turkey

1 1/4 cup chopped onion

1 or 2 teaspoons of minced garlic

(garlic is not part of the original recipe; used a HEAPING amount of garlic from the jar)

2 cups peeled and sliced carrots

(replaced with shredded baby carrots)

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (didn't have these )

1 16-ounce can cut green beans, drained

(green beans replaced with 2 cans 15.5-ounces black beans)

1 16-ounce can corn, drained (didn't use)

3 stalks sliced celery chopped (I used about 6+ stalks)

4.25 ounces chopped ripe olives (not part of the original recipe)

1 46-ounce can tomato juice

(tomato juice replaced with 16-ounces tomato sauce and 2 28-ounces diced tomatos in tomato juice)

1 cup water (not part of the original recipe)

2 teaspoons sugar (replaced with Savannah Gold with Honey )

1 teaspoon celery seed (didn't bother)

Salt and pepper to taste (also used various other seasonings)

Sprinkle shredded cheese on top before serving (optional)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Brown ground beef or turkey in a large saucepan. Saute in butter chopped  celery, green bell pepper, onion, and garlic. In big stock pan add tomato sauce, diced tomatos in juice, sauted vegetables, olives, cooked ground beef or turkey, water, seasonings. Simmer, covered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Enjoy!!!