The meaning of my last post, about "We don't need no steenkin' recipe!" is that a stew, as I see it and do it, is a very flexible thing. Depends very much on what I have on hand, and also how I happen to feel. I don't believe I've ever made (over 55 years of cooking) stew twice the same way. Same thing with a pot of beans.

Actually, since a stew in my hands utilizes what is to hand, even if the result gets an enthusiastic reaction from the family, I wouldn't be able to repeat it if I wanted to.

On a different (but related) line of thought, I like to tell people that anyone can cook if (s)he has one of two sets of qualifications:
1. (S)he can read and follow directions; or
2. (S)he likes to eat and has some imagination.

And if you have both (1) and (2) you can be a good cook!

Dave Oesterreich