Beef Bourguignon

Beef Bourguignon

Today is the second year anniversary of the passing of my dear husband.  I thought a nice way to honor his memory would be to publish a recipe he really enjoyed.  Well, I couldn't think of any one recipe that I would say was his very favorite but this dish would be eaten with the compliment, Thanks for a nice dinner, I really enjoyed his recipe".  We had a very compatible dietary plan.  It was simply he loved to eat and I loved to cook.  I did not repeat unless by request.  His birthdate is July 29.  I will then publish his favorite birthday treat.

Beef Bourguignon

Ingredients:

6 slices thick cut bacon diced
3 lbs lean stew beef cut into 2" cubes
2 yellow onions, sliced
3 medium carrots, diced
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups red wine
3 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 bay leaf, crumbled
20 pearl onions peeled/skinned (or use thawed frozen ones)
An herb bouquet of (4 parsley sprigs, one bay leaf, and one quarter teaspoon thyme all tied in cheesecloth)
1lb fresh white button mushrooms sliced

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Directions:

Warm up a skillet, then add bacon.  Cook until the fat has rendered and the bacon is nice and crispy.  Remove the pan from the heat, and transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.  Pour off all but a tablespoon of bacon fat from pan, reserving the rest of the grease for cooking.

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Return the pan to medium-high heat.  Pat the beef dry and sprinkle with flour salt and pepper.  Just before the bacon fat is smoking, add a single layer of beef cubes.  Sear the meat in batches, flipping the pieces after 1 to 3 minutes.

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After each batch, transfer the seared beef to the slow cooker.  Deglaze the pan with 1/4 cup of wine using a spatula or wooden spoon to scrape off any browned bits from the bottom of the pan while the wine simmers.  Pour the wine over the seared meat once the pan is cleaned.

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Add 1 more tablespoon of leftover bacon grease to the pan and repeat the searing of the meat and deglazing of the pan until all the meat is seared.

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Wipe the pan clean and warm one more tablespoon of bacon grease (or vegetable oil) over medium heat.  Cook the mushrooms with 1/4 teaspoon salt until the release all of their liquid and the liquid has evaporated.  The mushrooms should end ups nice golden brown (about 8 to 10 minutes).  Transfer the mushrooms to a clean bowl and set aside.

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Add one more tablespoon of the bacon fat and cook the yellow onions with 1/4 teaspoon of salt until soft and browned (6 to 8 minutes).  Add the carrots and cook until softened.  Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook until fragrant.  Transfer the vegetable mixture to the slow cooker.

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Stir together the mixture in the slow cooker with an additional 1 teaspoon salt, the thyme, and the crumbled bay leaf.  Add the herb bouquet to the mixture and pour in the beef broth and remaining wine over the mixture.  Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

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Just before serving, stir in the reserved bacon, pearl onions, and mushrooms, then cover and cook for another 10 minutes.  Remove the herb bouquet then serve.