I love stew on a good cold day, but we havent had any of those here this year.
I start taking things out of the freezer, cut corn, okra, peppers, onions, blackeye peas, green beans, tomatoes, just what ever I have. I have a large pot. lol
Get these going and then start adding spices. What kind? Just depends on who is coming over and what kind of mood I am in. If I have some good hot peppers then I go light on hot spices and shoot for flavor.
Then I start the corn bread.
Never have gone wrong with stew.
Good luck.