Beef Bourguignon

Ingredients

6 strips bacon, cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces
3 pounds beef rump, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large carrot, peeled and sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons flour
10 ounces beef broth, can condensed
2 cups red or Burgundy wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon whole thyme
1 whole bay leaf
1/2 pound white onions, peeled
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced

Directions

1. Sauté bacon in a skillet on stovetop set to medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside.
2. Add beef cubes to skillet and brown well. Remove meat and set aside.
3. Brown carrot and onion in skillet and transfer to stoneware. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in flour, add broth, and mix well.
4. Add beef and bacon to stoneware, mix, and place in slow cooker heating base.
5. Add wine, tomato paste, garlic, bay leaf, onions, and mushrooms. Cover; cook on Low for 10-12 hours or on High for 5-6 hours.

Grilled Avocado Cheese Sandwich

Two big slices of artisan bread (I used rosemary olive oil this time)
Half of a ripe avocado slices thin
grated smoked Gouda cheese
thin slices tomato
thin sliced red tomato
bacon fat (yes bacon fat)

Butter the bread with cool bacon fat. Assemble the sandwich with avocado slices, cheese, tomato and onions. Grill on a griddle until browned and the cheese is melted. I discovered with this sandwich that the bacon fat makes the most incredible crisp bread.