Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon

After watching the movie Julie and Julia, I came to realize this dish was one of the main dishes that Julie was determined to make during her year of cooking Julia Child’s recipes. I decided I would find the recipe, figure out how to make it and hope for the best. After talking with the kids and them seeing the ingredients, they said sure. I think what sold them was the bacon. No matter what, kids love bacon. I can't wait to try this and will post pictures as I make it. Has anyone else with kids made this? What did they think after having it?
****UPDATE****
I made this for my children and they absolutely loved this! No leftovers whatsoever! Thank you Julia Child for a recipe my kids loved!

Julia Childs Beef Bourguignon

Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients

* 1 tablespoon good olive oil
* 8 ounces dry-cured center-cut
* Apple wood-smoked bacon diced
* 2 ½ pounds chuck beef cut 1" cubes
* Kosher salt as needed
* Freshly-ground black pepper as needed
* 1 pound carrots sliced diagonally
* Into 1-inch chunks
* 2 yellow onions sliced
* 2 teaspoons chopped garlic - (2 cloves)
* ½ cup Cognac
* 1 bottle good dry red wine - (750 ml) (such as Cote du Rhone or Pinot Noir)
* 1 can beef broth - (2 cups)
* 1 tablespoon tomato paste
* 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
* 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided, and at
* room temperature
* 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 1 pound frozen whole onions
* 1 pound fresh mushrooms stems discarded, and caps thickly sliced
* FOR SERVING:
* Country bread or Sour Dough toasted or grilled
* and rubbed with garlic clove
* ½ cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate.

Dry the beef cubes with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In batches in single layers, sear the beef in the hot oil for 3 to 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the seared cubes to the plate with the bacon and continue searing until all the beef is browned. Set aside.

Toss the carrots, and onions, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper in the fat in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac, stand back, and ignite with a match to burn off the alcohol. Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the juices. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat. Add the tomato paste and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven for about 1 ¼ hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork.

Combine 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour with a fork and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. Sauté the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter for 10 minutes until lightly browned and then add to the stew. Bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste.

To serve, toast the bread in the toaster or oven. Rub each slice on 1 side with a cut clove of garlic. For each serving, spoon the stew over a slice of bread and sprinkle with parsley.

This recipe yields 6 servings.