St. Patrick's Day Beef and Guinness Stew.

Don't like corned beef and cabbage?  Try this!

Beef and Guinness Stew

2 pounds stewing beef
3 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons flour
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of cayenne
2 large onions, coarsely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tablespoons tomato puree, dissolved in 4 tablespoons water
1 1/4 cups Guinness
2 cups largely diced carrots
Sprig of fresh thyme
Chopped parsley, for garnish

Trim the meat of any fat or gristle, and cut into 2-inch cubes. Toss beef with 1 tablespoon of the oil. 
In a small bowl, season the flour with salt, pepper, and cayenne. 
Toss meat with seasoned flour.

In a large skillet or dutch oven, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over high heat and brown the meat on all sides. 
Reduce the heat, add the onions, crushed garlic and tomato puree to the dutch oven, cover, and cook gently for 5 minutes. 

Put aside the contents of the dutch oven and pour half of the Guinness into the dutch oven. Bring Guinness to a boil and place the meat, along with the remaining Guinness back into the dutch oven. Add the carrots and thyme. Stir, cover and simmer over low heat, or put in the oven at 300 degrees until the meat is tender for about 2 to 3 hours. 
Garnish the beef with parsley and serve with mashed potatoes.

Don't forget to add a colorful touch to your St. Patrick's Day celebration by making green beer!  Add a few drops of green food coloring to any beer in a clear glass (although lighter color beers will look the best!)

Enjoy and drink responsibly!