4 strips bacon
Salt & pepper to taste
2 lbs. stew meat
1 lb. sm. boiling onions
3 tbsp. flour
1 1/2 c. dry red wine
3 tbsp. brandy
2 cloves minced garlic
1/8 tsp. marjoram
1/8 tsp. thyme
1 strip of orange peel from lg. orange
1 tbsp. beef stock base
1 c. water
1 med. onion stuck with 4 whole cloves

Cook bacon and remove from grease. Season meat and brown in bacon drippings. Put meat and bacon in 3 quart casserole dish. Brown onions in dripping. Add flour to drippings and brown slightly. Gradually stir in wine to flour. Add the rest of the ingredients, continually stirring. Bring to a boil and pour over meat. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours. Add browned onions and cook 30 minutes. If desired, cook 1/2 pound mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter and add to meat in last 10 to 15 minutes of baking time.