Foodie Friday ~ Guinness Stew

It's FRIDAY!! Woo hoo! With St. Patty's Day right around the corner it's time to start thinking about the most important thing about this day....what we're going to eat and drink!!!! Now, what to drink is a no-brainer--you gotta go for a nice tall pint (or 3) of Guinness. But why stop there?! Why not throw a pint into your meal, too!!??

Although I tuck away my soup and stew recipes come spring, this Guinness Stew recipe is an exception. I make it every St. Patty's Day because it's easy, delicious and and forces me to buy Guinness and drink the leftovers! Bottoms up!!!

Photo Credit: Blissfully Delicious

Beef & Guinness Stew
**serves 4-6

1 lb. stew meat, cut into large chunks
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 14.5 oz can of Guinness
1 cup beef stock (or more, as it cooks)
3-45large carrots, cut into chunks
2 springs fresh thyme
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt/Pepper

1. Toss stew meat with flour, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.

2. Heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil in a large skillet and cook meat in batches until it is just golden brown on the outside (does NOT need to be cooked through).

**LAZY GIRL NOTE: You can skip the browning of the meat and just throw it right until the crockpot after you have seasoned it, but know that you will be missing a KEY layer of flavor that happens when you brown the meat.

3. Toss browned meat into the crockpot along with the onions, garlic, carrot, tomato paste and sprigs of thyme. Pour beef stock and Guinness down over the top of everything and give everything a nice stir.

4. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 5-6 hours until meat is tender. If the stew needs more liquid as it cooks, feel free to add more beer or beef stock :)

5. Serve with Irish soda bread or any crusty bread...and more Guinness :) Because remember....

Now go get your Irish on!