Beef Bourguignon

I really love my slow cooker in winter.
Case in point? Tonight's dinner! I made beef bourguignon and it was amazing! It was so tasty and the aromatic goodness could be smelled from the sidewalk outside our house!
I served it with sourdough baguette, as Tuesday night's are busy in this house!

INGREDIENTS

100g bacon, chopped

1.5kg beef, diced (I use chuck or gravy, whichever is cheapest)

1 cup dry red wine

2 cups chicken stock

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup plain flour

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped (add more to taste)

2 tbspn thyme

5 carrots, sliced

500g baby potatoes, halved

200g mushrooms, sliced

METHOD:

1. In a large frying pan, cook bacon over medium high heat until crisp. Put bacon in slow cooker. Salt and pepper the beef and add to the skillet and sear on each side for 2-3 minutes. Transfer beef to the slow cooker.

2. Add the red wine to the frying pan, scraping down the brown bits on the side. Allow it to simmer and reduce and slowly add chicken stock, tomato sauce and soy sauce. Slowly whisk in the flour. Add the sauce to the slow cooker.

3. Add garlic, thyme, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms to the slow cooker. Give it a good stir and cook on low until beef is tender - low for 8-10 hours or high for 6 hours.

NOTE: if making dump bags, put all ingredients into a large bowl to cool before putting in bag. Omit potatoes, they don't freeze well (add fresh when cooking). 

Enjoy.

- L. x

Perfectionism.

I loathe perfectionism.

This trimester of uni is grueling. The content is so dry, that after a conversation with one of my lecturers, I told myself I wouldn't focus on grades for these mundane units.
Who am I kidding?! This unscrupulous trait of mine is debilitating, the HDs often feel like my only success at the end of a productive, fruitful trimester. But even then, I feel like a failure.
Perfectionism is no blessing. Being a high achiever, loving success? That's a blessing. Perfectionism is nothing more than self-loathing, masquerading as a desire for success. It doesn't matter how many mentors praise your abilities and offer to assist you with getting a contract at the completion of your degree, you never feel good enough. I never feel good enough. This is especially horrendous when course material is so dry, no technique will help me absorb it. I'm doomed!

If im being honest, I would sink into a pit of hell were it not for Tyler. Despite his incessant chatter, myriad of appointments and extra-curricular activities, he keeps me sane. Keeps me from going days without sleep, showers and conversation. 🤢

Seriously, can I graduate already?!! University is destroying my soul. At least I can manage this disgraceful behaviour under normal life conditions. 😖🍫🍷🍸🍹

End rant, fuelled by the realisation that most of the elements in this article are my life.

- L. x