Beef Stew W/Bacon

Ingredients

4 lbs. beef - cubed
1 lb. bacon - thick cut
10 carrots , sliced twice
4 onions, roughly chopped
4 gloves garlic, chopped
8 celery stalks, sliced thick
3 tsp. flour
2 pts. stock
1 Tbs. pepper
2 Tbs. tomato paste
2 cups dry red wine

Instructions

1) Saute bacon until semi crisp. Put on paper towel.

2) Mix flour & pepper in plastic bag-add cubed beef, shake.

3) Saute in batches beef cubes in a little of bacon fat until browned on all sides. Place in stove top/oven proof saucepan w/lid.

4) Saute celery, garlic, onions, carrots in left over bacon fat or a little olive oil if preferred. Add to beef.* Cover w/ beef stock.

5) *Deglaze pan w/wine stock & tomato paste. cover beef & veg. Bring to gentle boil & transfer to oven. 300 for 4 hrs.