Beef And Merlot

Directions

1. 1
   Brown the beef cubes in 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a good size pot or Dutch oven. Do this in batches so as not to overcrowd the meat. You want the cubes well browned. Set the beef cubes aside in a bowl.
2. 2
   Add the bacon to the pot along with the last tablespoon of olive oil and saute untl the bacon crisps.
3. 3
   Add the diced onion and minced garlic and saute until the onion softens and the garlic becomes fragrant. Add the tomato paste and stir it around for about a minute or so.
4. 4
   Add the bay leaf and wine, stirring to scrape up all those browned bits in the bottom of the pot.
5. 5
   Return the meat to the pot along with any accumulated juices and then add enough beef broth to just cover the meat.
6. 6
   Bring the stew up to a boil and then down to a simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the meat becomes very tender.
7. 7
   Meanwhile, prep the pearl onions by cutting off the root ends and then placing them in boiling water for about 1 minute. Drain, cool a bit and then slip off the onion peels.
8. 8
   Once the meat is tender, add the pearl onions and mushrooms and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Add the cornstarch slurry and stir until thickened. Season with salt and pepper if needed. Serve over noodles, rice or mashed potatoes, garnishing each serving with a few slices of green onion.