Subj:  Winter Warm-Up Beef Simmer
From:  MrySpencer
This recipe comes from Land O Lakes Treasury of Country 
Recipes.  I know this may be
hard to believe, but it is the best beef stew in the 
world!  (At least, in my humble
opinion, it is.)  It requires some work in the assembly 
process, but once it's put together
you can just stick it in the oven and pretty much forget 
about it for 4 hours.
Winter Warm-Up Beef Simmer
1  cup (2 med.) chopped onions
6  slices bacon, cut into 1/2" pieces
3  lb. beef chuck roast, trimmed, cut into 2-1/2" 
pieces
8  med. red potatoes, halved
3  med. carrots, cut into 1' pieces
3  med. onions, halved
1  8-oz. pkg. fresh mushrooms, halved
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1  cup apple juice
1 10-1/2oz can beef broth
1  6 oz. can tomato paste
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. thyme leaves
1  tsp. minced fresh garlic
1  bay leaves
Heat oven to 325 degrees.  In Dutch oven place onions, 
bacon and roast chunks.  Cook
over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until bacon 
and roast are browned (8 to 10
min.).  Stir in vegetables.  Stir in remaining ingredients. 
 Cover; bake for 1-1/2 hr. 
Uncover; continue baking, stirring occasionally, for 
2 to 2-1/2 hr. or until roast is fork
tender.
Serves eight.