Tailgaters Favorite Stew

• 6 slices bacon (about 4 oz/125 g)
• 1/4 cup (50 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
• 1/2 tsp (2 ml) cracked black peppercorns
• 1/4 tsp (1 ml) cayenne pepper
• 2 lbs ( 1 kg) stewing beef, trimmed, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes and patted dry
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp (2 ml) freshly grated nutmeg
• Grated zest and juice of 1 orange
• 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) barley (see Notes) rinsed and drained
• 2 cups (500 ml) beef stock
• 1 cup (250 ml) dry red wine
• 1 cup (250 ml) water
• 1 can (5 1/2 oz/156 ml) tomato paste

1. In a skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp.
2. Drain on a paper towel and crumble.
3. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
4. Drain off all but 2 tbsp (25 ml) fat from pan, reserving remainder.
5. On a plate, combine flour, salt, peppercorns and cayenne.
6. Dredge beef in mixture until coated, discarding any excess.
7. Add beef to pan, in batches, and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes per batch, adding more bacon drippings between batches if necessary.
8. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to slow cooker stoneware as completed.
9. Reduce heat to medium.
10. Add onions, celery and carrots to pan and cook, stirring, until carrots are softened, about 7 minutes.
11. Add garlic, bay leaves, nutmeg and orange zest; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
12. Add barley, stock, wine, water, tomato paste and orange juice; bring to a boil.
13. Transfer to stoneware and stir well.
14. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours or on High for 4 hours, until beef is tender.
15. Discard bay leaves.
16. Stir in reserved bacon.
17. VARIATION
18. Substitute wheat, spelt or Kamut berries for the barley.
19. MAKE AHEAD
20. Complete Step 3, heating 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil in pan before softening the vegetables.
21. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
22. To cook, saute the bacon and brown the beef.
23. Combine with vegetable mixture and continue with Step

bacon, flour, salt, cracked black, cayenne pepper, stewing beef, onions, stalks celery, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, nutmeg, orange, barley, beef stock, red wine, water, tomato paste

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/tailgatersrsquo-favorite-stew (may not work)