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1
Preheat oven to 325F.
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2
Heat a large Dutch oven on medium-high heat and chop bacon into small pieces.
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3
Brown bacon in the Dutch oven until all fat is rendered and bacon is almost crisp.
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4
Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and pour off most fat into a small heatproof bowl.
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5
While bacon is browning, cut chuck roast into large 3-inch cubes.
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6
Salt and pepper the beef to your taste.
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7
In the Dutch oven, brown cubes, a few at a time, on all sides.
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8
Remove them to a separate large dish.
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9
Add onion and carrots to the Dutch oven and saute for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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10
Add salt and pepper to taste.
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11
Be gentle with the salt here, the bacon adds salt to the dish, too.
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12
While these are sauteing, mince 2 cloves of garlic and add to the pot along with whole garlic cloves.
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13
If you love garlic, go for it.
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The garlic simmers in the pot and kind of melts into the stew.
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15
If youre not big on garlic or youre not sure, then take it easy and go with less.
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16
Now is the time to add the mushrooms.
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Mix the flour and the poured-off bacon fat together and add to the pot; stir around for a minute, then add wine.
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18
Pour in the chicken broth.
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19
It can be either store-bought or homemade.
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20
When I make this, I cant stand the flavor of store-bought beef stock.
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21
Chicken stock works great, too.
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22
Add the bacon.
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23
Take the bunch of thyme and rosemary and throw that in the pot.
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24
I try to keep it on top so that its easy to find.
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25
You can wrap it in cheesecloth and tie it up, too.
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26
Make sure you are using a cotton kitchen string, and it should be food-safe.
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27
Put a tight-fitting lid on the pot and pop it into the oven for 4 to 5 hours.
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28
After 4 hours, begin testing the beef for tenderness.
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29
It should come apart with a fork.
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30
I serve this over Gorgonzola Polenta, but mashed potatoes would be wonderful, too.
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31
Note: The last time I made this, I used a stock pot and simmered it on the stove top on low (it took a long time to come to a simmer) all day and it was great.
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32
So try this if your pot doesnt fit easily into your oven.
