BISTRO BRAISED BEEF WITH SHIITAKE AND PEARL ONIONS

Steps:

• Clean shiitake and remove stems, if using other mushrooms simply clean.
• Leave whole or if mushrooms are large, thickly slice.
• In a large wide saucepan or Dutch oven, melt butter and 1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil over medium-high.
• Add mushrooms and cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and turn into a bowl.
• In a large bowl, stir flour with salt.
• Add beef and lightly coat in flour.
• In the pan that mushrooms were cooked in, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Cook half the meat until browned all over, then remove to a bowl.
• Repeat with remaining meat adding a little more oil.
• Stir in coffee, water, garlic, vinegar, brown sugar,Worcestershire, herbs and meat in bowl to the saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to medium-low, mixture should be gently simmering.
• Stir occasionally for 1 1/2 hours, meat should nearly be tender.
• Stir in carrots and onions.
• Continue to cook, simmering gently and stirring occasionally until meat is very tender, about 30 minutes.
• If you would like sauce a little thicker, uncover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in mushrooms.
• Add pepper to taste.
• Serve with mashed potatoes or egg noodles, sprinkled with parsley or fresh thyme.
• PEELING PEARL ONIONS:.
• Drop unpeeled onions in boiling water for a minute or so.
• Plunge into cold water.
• Cut base of onions and squeeze.
• Onions will pop out of skin.