Boeuf Bourguignon

It's been a little while since I've done a recipe, and since recipes are what this thing is supposed to be all about, I guess it's time.

This new one comes from un ami Parisien, but this dish is as old and classically French as it gets. Like French onion soup, it's another example of peasant food that's gone gourmet. This may not be the ideal recipe for the 30 degree weather we're seeing in Paris, but hey, a craving's a craving. It's also a perfect 1 pot dish when for example, you're in a little French apartment with a single hot plate.

Here's what you need:

- 1.5 kg of stewing beef, in 2 inch cubes

- 1 bottle of red wine, preferably Burgundy

- Half a liter of beef stock (probably won't use it all)

- 3 carrots, in rounds or chunks

- About the same amount of button mushrooms, sliced

- 1 large onion and 3 cloves of garlic, chopped

- 1 cup of flour

- Olive and canola oils

- Tablespoon of butter

- A bouquet garni - a couple sprigs of thyme, bay leaves, and sage, tied with butcher's twine

- Parsley or chive, chopped, for garnish
- Diced bacon, tomato paste, celery - optional additions

* Put the beef in a freezer bag and shake with seasoned flour

* In a large pot, brown the beef on all sides in canola oil and set aside

* Reduce the heat, add a little olive oil to the pot and begin browning the onions and garlic

* Drop in a tablespoon of butter, a tablespoon of flour, and keep cooking

* Once they begin to brown, deglaze the pot with a quarter bottle of wine

* Reduce slightly and return the beef to the pot

* Add more wine and stock (about 2/3 and 1/3) until the beef is just covered in liquid

* Drop in your bouquet garni, cover the pot, and simmer on low heat - don't boil!

* You may need to simmer for over an hour. It's important to cover the pot so you don't lose too much liquid

* When the beef is almost fork tender, add the carrots and continue to simmer

* Right before the end of cooking, add the mushrooms, simmer further, remove your bouquet garni, and serve!

Delicious in any weather

GG