Spiced Beef Stew

A long braise with a sauce of red wine, tomato paste and savory seasonings produce an ultra-tender beef stew.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs lean stew beef cubes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 1 6 oz can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves
• 2 tbsp raisins or currants

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Salt and pepper meat. Melt butter in a roasting pan. Add meat and coat with butter then arrange onions and carrots over meat. Mix tomato paste, wine, vinegar, sugar and garlic then pour over meat and onions. Add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves and raisins. Cover and bake 2-2 1/2 hours or until cooked. Serve over egg noodles or potatoes.

Number of Servings: 6