Slow-cooked Vegetable Stew Recipe

Ingredients: ½ lb each of any of the following (choose 4 or more): Eggplants, peeled and cut into 1 ½ -inch pieces Zucchini, cut into 1 ½ -inch pieces Yellow squash, cut into 1 ½ -inch pieces Small potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1 ½ -inch pieces Cauliflower, cored and cut into 1 ½ –inch florets Small whole okra, stem end trimmed Green beans, ends trimmed Pea pods ¼ cup olive oil 2 onions, chopped fine 3 medium garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated 1 jalapeño, deseeded and chopped fine 1 cinnamon stick, 2-inch (optional) 2 large red bell peppers, chopped 4 cups tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or two 14-ounce cans of peeled, diced tomatoes 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups water or broth (vegetable, chicken or beef) Heat the olive oil in a skillet, add the onions and until softened. Add the garlic, ginger, jalapeno and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to slow cooker and add red bell peppers, vegetables, tomatoes and spices. Add enough liquid to barely cover the top of the vegetables and season to taste. Cook for 6–8 hours on low. Note: Don’t cut the vegetable too small so that they don’t disintegrate during the slow cooking. Also avoid adding too much water.