Day 31 Encore' Recipe

Day 31 of 30    Wait, am I going over the 30 days ???
I have been waiting for a good opportunity to try Julie's Beef Bourginon recipe she shared with me a few weeks ago.

Report:   Fabulous!!!  The entire family ate it up immediately. I love the tiny onions and the flavor was wonderful.  I served it with a spoonful of white rice on top.   Will most certainly do again.

Slow Cooker Boeuf Bourgignon

1 can (14 oz) reduced sodium, fat free beef broth
1 cup burgundy or other full-bodied red wine
1/4 cup water
1 envelope (1.2 oz) plain brown gravy mix, such as Knorr
2 tsp bottled minced garlic (fresh is best)
2 bay leaves
3/4 tsp. dried thyme
5 slices already-cooked bacon
1 large onion (for about 1 cup chopped)
20-25 baby carrots
8 oz. sliced fresh mushrooms
2 lbs. Beef cubes for stew
1 bag (16 oz) frozen small whole onions
salt to taste, if desired
3 tbsp. cornstarch

Pour the beef broth, wine and water into slow cooker.  Pour the powdered gravy from the envelope into the broth mixture and whisk until any lumps disappear.  Sprinkle the garlic, bay leaves and thyme over the broth.
Cut up the bacon into roughly 1/4" pieces.  Scatter the bacon in the slow cooker.
Peel and coarsely chop the onion.  Scatter the onion pieces, whole baby carrots and sliced mushrooms evenly in the slow cooker.  Place the beef cubes evenly over the vegetables and press down and stir as necessary to make sure most of the beef is submerged in the broth mixture.  Add the whole onions to the top.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.  (The stew can cook on low as long as 9 hours).
Before serving the stew, remove the lid and stir it well.  Remove the bay leaves, taste the broth and season with salt if desired.  Mix the cornstarch and 3 tbsp water in a jar that has a lid.  Shake well until the mixture is smooth and no lumps remain.  Pour the mixture evenly over the stew (the stew needs to be hot when you do this step).  Stir well.  Continue stirring until the stew reaches the desired thickness, about 5 minutes.  Serve the stew in bowls.