Pot-au-feu: the quintessential comfort food, the name referring to the earthenware pot that this hearty stew is cooked in. A simple classic French dish of boiled meat and vegetables.

There's no set-in-stone recipe for pot-au-feu, which is right up my alley. The only real requirement for a good result is to give it a lot of time. The dish makes great use of lower cost cuts of meats, root vegetables and some spices, usually a bouquet garni.

pot-au-feu
n
1. (Cookery) a traditional French stew of beef and vegetables
2. (Cookery) the large earthenware casserole in which this is cooked

[literally: pot on the fire]