Beef Red Blend Stew

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon good Olive Oil
• 8 ounces Bacon, diced
• 2 1/2 pounds Chuck Beef cut into 1-inch cubes
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 pound Carrots, sliced into 1-inch chunks
• 2 Yellow Onions, sliced
• 2 teaspoons chopped Garlic
• 1/2 cup Brandy
• 1 (750 ml) bottle your favorite Red Blend Wine
• 2 cups Beef Broth
• 2 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
• 1 teaspoon fresh Thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon, dried)
• 4 Tablespoons Butter at room temperature, divided evenly
• 3 tablespoons All-purpose Flour
• 1 pound frozen whole Button Onions
• 1 pound fresh Mushrooms stems discarded, caps sliced thick​ ​

Details
Serves 6
Cooking Time: 2 .25 hours
Cooking Level : medium​

Instructions

1. ​Heat the olive oil in a large pot.
2. Add bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon onto a large plate with paper towels.
3. Dry the beef with paper towels and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Sear the beef, in batches to not crowd the pan, in the hot oil for 3 to 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove to a plate and set aside.
5. Toss the carrots, onions, salt and pepper in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the carrots are lightly brown.
6. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
7. Add Brandy cook 1 minute.
8. Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the liquids.
9. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat.
10. Add tomato paste and thyme.
11. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place in the oven at 350 degrees for about 1 1/4 hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork.
12. Time to have some wine and put your feet up! Then...
13. Combine 2 tablespoons of butter and flour with a fork and stir into the stew.
14. Add the frozen onions.
15. Sauté the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter until lightly browned about 10 minutes and add to the stew.
16. Bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
17. Salt and Pepper to taste.​