Boeuf Bourguignon, a love story

So this past week, Steve really wanted to drink a nice bottle of red. The only thing that would go with it, he proclaimed, would be Julia Child's beef bourguignon - which, I'll admit, I have never attempted because it takes FOREVAH to prepare. and most of Julia's recipes all use all of the pots and pans in the house, but... are always worth it.

So I decided to tackle it. And here is my pictorial essay (and if you'd like the recipe, you SHOULD own a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, but if you don't, you can find PDFs of the recipe here. And really, folks, I'll tell you upfront, it may have taken 90 minutes to prep and 3 1/2 hours in the oven, but it's NOT HARD. It really isn't. With Julia's wonderful writing, you have all the instructions you need.

SO! First you simmer the bacon in water and then brown in a Dutch Oven. (you're supposed to use slab bacon, but i couldn't find any...)

Then you chop up your own stew meat, b/c grocery store stew meat doesn't cut it my friends. This is a rump roast chopped. (and frankly, not that more expensive). I think this whole meal cost me $12.
Brown the beef in the BACON FAT (oh yes please!) , and don't overload the meat or it won't brown nice.
Add one really hungry dog at this point.
Meanwhile, chop up carrots and onions.
Take out the browned meat.
and then saute the onions and carrots in the bacon/beef fat.... mmmm.... Put everything back in the dutch oven, cover with 3 cups of wine, beef stock, various spices, and put in oven for 3-4 HOURS. oh yes. that long. then open wine and let it breath. ahhhh....

In addition to doing the stew part, you also have to cook the pearl onions and mushrooms that you add to the finished stew separately. Seriously? Yes. It was worth it. You braise these puppies for an hour on the stove. and they were the most carmelly tasty brown-braised pearl onions we have ever had. mmmm...
When beef is fork tender, take it out, drain all the liquid into yet another saucepan and simmer down to thicken. Skim off fat. Give to dog with food.
Serve with wine and crusty bread and realize that it is the BEST beef stew you have ever eaten in your life and forget to take a picture of the finished meal until you go for seconds.
Voila! Thanks Julia!!

oh - and in addition, add one happy baby... the next day, of course. ;)