Another beef casserole...

[Le TVR]

1,5 kg Beef (use a low cost beef as for a stew)
200 gm bacon pieces
200 gm white mushrooms
6 shallots
Garlic
Bouquet garni (sachet type - like a tea-bag)
2 cans of draft Guiness
Baguette bread
Cheese (Cheddar, Cantal etc)


Cut the beef into large pieces (5cm cube size)
Heat some oil in a pan and quickly brown each side of the pieces of beef. (This is just to seal the meat, not to cook it)
Remove beef from pan when each side is browned.
Peel the shallots and leave them whole.
Add bacon pieces and shallots to pan until bacon is cooked.
Add a few pieces of garlic, crushed.
Add the pieces of beef.
Add the draft guiness (slowly - you will see why!)
Add the bouquet garni

Place in low oven (gas 1 - 2) for 2 hours.

After 2 hours slice the mushrooms and add to pan. Mix some cornflour and water into pan to
thicken the sauce.

Cut some slices of baguette (1 per person) about 3 - 4 cm thick. Place each slice of bread
on top of the sauce and put a slice of cheese on each piece of bread.

Return to oven for 30 mins.


Usually I serve with a stir-fry (wok style) of brussels sprouts, walnuts, bacon.