This is a delicious recipe fit for any winter table. Make sure you have enough time, as this casserole needs about 3 hours to cook to perfection. This recipe yields about 4 servings.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 750g Stewing Beef, trimmed, cut into 3cm cubes
• 1/2 Onion
• 1 medium Leek, trimmed, halved, washed, sliced
• 2 Garlic cloves, crushed
• 4 rashers of Bacon, trimmed, chopped
• 200g Mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tbsp Plain flour
• 2 large Potatoes, peeled, chopped
• 2 dried Bay leaves
• 4 sprigs fresh Thyme
• 375ml bottle Lager beer
• 1 1/2 cups Beef stock
• Sliced crusty bread, to serve

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan.
2. In a large, flameproof casserole dish, heat half the oil.
3. Brown the beef in batches and transfer to a bowl.
4. Heat the remaining oil and add the onion, leek, garlic, bacon and mushrooms.
5. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the onion has softened.
6. Return beef to casserole.
7. Add the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Stirring continuously.
8. Add the potato, bay leaves and thyme.
9. Stir in beef stock and beer. Cover an bring to a boil.
10. Place casserole in the oven and bake for about 2 hours or until beef is tender.
11. Remove the bayleaves.
12. Serve with crusty bread.
13. Enjoy!

Source: Taste Magazine Australia