Crock Pot Beef Stew 2.5 lbs chuck 1/4 cup bacon grease salt fresh cracked mixed peppers 1/8 c cooking wine 1 onion 12 oz beer 1 lb bag carrots 8 medium potatoes 8oz mushrooms 2 t minced garlic 1 t thyme 1 t marjoram 1/3 t ground celery seed 1/2 t white pepper 2/3 t salt 2 c bone stock Heat 2/3 of bacon grease in griddle (or heavy pan) on high. Cut beef into 1" x 3/4" x 3/4" pieces. Liberally salt and pepper the beef. Brown beef, 4 minutes per side, no stirring. while beef is browning: Slice onion. Place onion in bottom of crock pot. Add beer. Set crock pot for 8 hrs, low. Slice mushrooms. Peel and chop carrots & potatoes. Add to crock pot. Add browned beef to crock pot. Deglaze griddle with cooking wine. Dissolve drippings into wine & pour into crock pot. Sautee mushrooms in rest of bacon grease. Add to crock pot. Add garlic, herbs & spices, celery, and salt to crock pot. Cook three hours or until sizzle is heard from crock pot. Stir. Add bone stock. Allow 8-hour cycle to complete, stirring every two hours if available (otherwise add all ingredients at beginning and it will be almost as good). This will yield a thick stew. Add and heat water for soupier stew.