Wintry stew for summery days

Here is my recipe for a one-pot veggie stew (serves 4-6). Extreme comfort food.

Ingredients

• 1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 swede, peeled and chopped
• 1 parsnip, peeled and chopped
• Portion broccoli/cauliflower/green beans (whatever you've got in the fridge, basically)
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 100g pearl barley (soaked overnight if indicated by packet instructions)
• 100g red lentils
• 2 Oxo vegetable stock cubes
• 2tbsp olive oil
• 2tbsp Marmite
• Dash of tobasco
• 2tbsp Worcester sauce
• 1tbsp tomato puree
• 2tbsp soy sauce
• 1tbsp dried thyme
• 1tbsp dried rosemary
• 1tbsp dried marjoram
• 1tbsp oregano (optional)
• Salt and pepper

Method: In a large stew pan, fry the onion and garlic in the olive oil for a few minutes until beginning to brown. Add all other veg to the pan and cover with boiling water. Throw in the rest of the ingredients, bring to the boil and simmer until the veg and pulses are tender (about an hour). Or use a slow cooker.

Note: all measurements are approximate. I tend just to throw things in until it tastes nice.

Serve in one of those giant Aunt Bessie's Yorkshire puds. Yum yum.