A Veggie-Packed Meal for the Whole Family

I know one thing I'm trying to do this new year is eat more veggies!  It's the one thing that I have to think more about to get them in. It's not that I don't like them, I actually do - but I have to remind myself about adding them to my meal, buy them more frequently (meaning, not in bulk once a month), and when I do get them added to the dinner plate, they're the food that's left on my kids' plates.  I have a few go-to meals/snacks that I can pack veggies within a recipe we all enjoy, smoothies being an easy route, and this stew that my mom has made for years, which I'm sharing with YOU today!
The Plaza III Steak Soup is an at-home version of a delicious and well-known stew a local Kansas City restaurant (the Plaza III) offers. It's so easy to make, packed with SO MANY veggies and makes great leftovers - what's better than that for a busy family?  The only secret to this meal is starting with premium frozen veggies by C&W Vegetables.  You can pick them up from most Walmarts, and they have 25 varieties! 

What you need:
-  1/2 cup of light margin - 3/4 cup of flour (I use wheat flour) - 2 lbs of ground beef or turkey - 1 bottle of B-V Beef flavoring (I find it in the condiment aisle near gravy and/or bbq sauces) - 1/2 cup of a chopped onion (typically half of the onion) - 1 can of diced tomatoes - 2 cups of C&W Vegetables - the "ultimate petite mixed vegetables" is perfect for the this recipes + additional veggies of your choice, based on your preference. I add in 3/4 cup of edamame and additional 1/2 cup of peas and 1/2 cup of carrots! - Pepper to taste (you do NOT need salt, as the B-V flavoring has all the sodium you need)
You'll also need a stewpot/dutch oven and a large skillet.

I get two burners going on my cooktop so I can cook the meat in the large skillet at the same time I get the base of the stew (the broth) started.  So while I'm cooking the meat over Medium/Medium-High, I am melting the margin in the stewpot (or dutch oven if that's what you have) on medium. Once the butter is melted, I slowly add in the flour while whisking.

Once the flour and butter are mixed and smooth, add in 8 cups of water (again, slowly and while whisking).  Don't forget to stir around your meat cooking next to it!  Typically, once I have my broth based done, the meat is ready to be drained.  I drain it in a big colander in the sink to get rid of the extra fat. 

And this right here was the hardest part. It's a cake walk from here on out...

 Now you're ready to just DUMP everything into your broth base. Like seriously, just dump it all in there.  And that's why frozen veggies are also genius, because no slicing or washing - skip all that step, and... yup, just dump.

 Pour in the cooked meat, all the frozen veggies you desire, chopped onion, the can (and liquids) of diced tomatoes and the whole bottle of B-V Beef Flavoring Bottle into your stewpot of broth.

Bring it all to a boil, then lower the temperature to low, cover and let simmer for at least 2 hours.  

I typically make this on a weekend starting midday and let simmer for ever longer, or at night and then after simmer for 2 hours, I let it cool and then store it in the fridge for dinner the next night (and the next night and the next)... It's also great to just make and then freeze. The perfect meal to make if you're preparing for a baby or bringing dinner to a friend!

And of course, one way I can get my little babes to eat veggies...

 {This one... it's hard to get her to eat anything! She just wants to read! But she'll eat it... eventually.}

It's not just for kids!  I've loved this ever since my mom started making it for me as a kid. I make it probably 10 times every winter and even outside of the cooler months.  We made double batches for the freezer before each kiddo was born and then ate it throughout the first couple months of their little lives.  It really is a meal we can all love, and get in our veggies.

And here is everything you need to make this easy dish at home!
Just make sure you add C&W Vegetables to your shopping list and make sure to take advantage of the $.50 off of 1 package of C&W vegetables Ibotta coupon good at select Walmart stores (while supplies last)!

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and C&W®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #premiumveggies http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Follow along here: BlogLovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook