The Lovell Table

I purchased a really great beef chuck at our local farmers market and instantly wanted to crack open a bottle of red and roast it. I love a roast because it cooks all day and makes the house smell divine. However, I do not always have the time to stay home all day so the oven can be on- insert this slow cooker recipe. Simple but extravagant tasting.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs chuck roast cut into large cubes
• 4 bacon slices sliced into 1/2 inch thick pieces
• fresh cracked pepper
• salt
• 5 garlic cloves minced
• 1 pound carrots cut into two inch long pieces
• 1 and 1/4 cup malbec
• 1 yellow onion cut into eighths
• 1 carton of beef broth
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 5 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• 2 tablespoons water

Method

1. Cook bacon pieces in a pan on medium heat until crispy
2. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon
3. Season the cubes of beef chuck with salt and pepper and then sear them in the bacon drippings until brown on all sides (no more than 3 min per side)
4. In the slow cooker- add the beef, carrots, onions, bacon, garlic, wine, beef broth , and tomato paste
5. Mix with a wooden spoon and top with the thyme sprigs
6. Cook on high 5-6 hours until the meat is cooked through
7. Once cooked, discard the thyme sprigs
8. Using a slotted spoon remove the meat and vegetables from the crock pot and transfer them to a serving platter
9. In a small bowl whisk the cornstarch and water together until the cornstarch disolves
10. Carefully pour two cups of the liquid from the slow cooker into a pot on the stove and stir in the cornstarch mixture
11. Bring to a boil and boil for 3-4 minutes until it thickens slightly
12. Ladle as much of the liquid as desired over the meat on the platter and serve