When the weather gets colder, our bodies tend to crave heavier comfort foods. To help satisfy cravings and nurture the body at the same time, a hearty stew has the power to warm you from the inside out.

Stews are an especially convenient winter go-to food because you don’t necessarily need a specific recipe for them to turn out great. Most of the time, you can use any of the vegetables you already have in your refrigerator.

This month, rather than giving you an exact recipe, we’ll give you the know-how so you can make a stew yourself with the items you already have in your kitchen. Here are some step-by-step instructions to make a fool-proof, fully flavorful stew.

1. Start with a base (we’ll use lentils in this example) and cook them with some warming spices, like cumin, ginger, cardamom, or even a pinch of cinnamon.
2. In a separate pot, cook a medley of vegetables until they are soft. (Think root vegetables for winter, like carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, and parsnips, or other filling vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts.)
3. Take ⅓ to ½ of the cooked vegetables and blend them in a high-powered blender or food processor. (We also like to add a few dates or agave syrup sometimes for a bit of sweetness!)
4. Pour the blended veggies back into the pot with the chopped veggies, and add the lentils to that same pot.
5. Let them all cook together on low heat so all the flavors get to know each other in the pot. Add more water and stir from time to time.
6. Serve it up! It will still taste good the next day or two as well.

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