Contrary to what you all think, with me being as lazy as I am, I did more than lollygag around and drink beer today. I got the old stew pot out and made a batch of stew- but I did not wear my Mack apron. Or my chef's hat. I'm gonna deliver it to people tomorrow for Christmas. And not just because i'm cheap, it's good-and it's good for you, delicious and nutritious too. Lot of work actually- we processed a 5 lb. bag of taters, a 3lb. bag of onions, and cut up a whole sirloin tip into bite size pieces last night- like kibbles and bits. Put it in gallon ziplock bags and marinated it in worcestorshire sauce. This morning I put the beast, taters, and onions in a big pot on the stove. Then I got the stew pot out and boiled it out good before I started. Didn't really take long to make the stew with the head start on the raw ingredients, besides, I didn't want to put cold stuff in the already hot cast iron stew pot. Don't want to take a chance on cracking it. Then after it cooled a while we put it in canning jars for delivery. But there's still work to be done after that. I washed the pot out with the hose, then had to put water in it and build the fire back up. Boiled it out again, dumped it, dried it out over the fire, then reseasoned it with Crisco. I repeat this process every time I use it. I haven't even tasted the stew, but Jo said it was the best i've ever made- like I haven't heard that one before! My uncle used to say there's no such thing as a bad stew, some's just better than others.