black soda stew

I first noticed this weird soda flavor at my day job, when one of my coworkers was drinking it. It looked so weird, I had to use it in a video, so I asked him where he got the soda. He got it from this Panera bread copycat right across the street from my workplace that many of my coworkers go for lunch. So I went to the Panera bread copycat after work and I got 2 bottles of Mountain Dew Pitch Black soda(along with 2 bottles of Mountain Dew Baja Blast but that's for another video). The first thing I thought of using this was in a stew. 

I was really surprised the black color turned into beige as you can see above. The soda was obviously artificial but it just boggles my mind how it turned color when exposed to a flame. 

The taste was really good- I got a faint flavor of grape(which is the actual flavor of the Pitch Black soda) and a lot of heartiness coming from all the starches in the stew. 

Normally, I ask my dad if he wants to try whatever I'm making but I told him not to eat this stew because I didn't realize until I looked at the bottle that Mountain Dew actually has caffeine in it! Caffeine keeps my dad up at night to the point where he can't have any chocolate after 3 pm, but surprisingly chocolate doesn't keep me up at night. 

This is the perfect recipe for any college student that is cramming late at night but wants an actual dinner too! 

You will need: 

For the cooking equipment: 

A large saucepot with a lid
A small bowl

For the stew: 

2 cups of black soda(I used Mountain Dew Pitch Black soda)
2 cups of bison or beef broth
10 oz. of potatoes(I used sour cream and onion potatoes)
10 oz. of cauliflower(I used ranch cauliflower)
15 oz. of drained butter beans
Pinch of onion powder
Pinch of allspice
Pinch of marjoram
Pinch of black pepper
Pinch of salt

For the thickener: 

1/4 cup of water
1 tbsp. of lemon juice
2 tbsp. of all-purpose flour
1 tsp. of granulated sugar

1. Put all stew ingredients into the large saucepot. Mix all the ingredients up so the spices aren't floating on the surface. 
2. Bring the stew to a boil on the stove. As the stew is boiling, cover the saucepot with the lid. 
3. Once the stew is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the stew simmer for 45 minutes. 
4. While the stew is simmering, mix the thickener ingredients in a small bowl. 
5. When the stew is done simmering, turn the stove off and pour the thickener into the stew. Bring the stew to a boil again. Cover the saucepot with the lid as the stew is boiling. 
6. Once the stew is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the stew simmer for an additional 3 minutes. 
7. Shut the stove off, take the lid off of the saucepot, and let the stew cool off at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. 
8. Serve with wonton strips or garlic bread. Bon appetit! 

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