Recipe - Irish Beef Stew

Here's the next recipe for today, Irish Stew.  This one is made with Guinness.  I haven't tried this recipe yet, but it really does look very good.  I hope to give it a try in the next week or two.  So, without further ado...

Irish Beef Stew with Guinness Stout
Ingredients:

    * 2 tablespoons olive oil
    * 3 bay leaves
    * 2 pounds beef stew meat with some fat, cut in 2 inch cubes
    * 1 large yellow onion, peeled and sliced
    * 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
    * 1 teaspoon dried thyme, whole
    * 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
    * 2-3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    * 3/4 cup beef stock
    * 1/2 cup Guinness stout
    * 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
    * 1/2 pound carrots, sliced
    * salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat a 6-quart stove-top casserole. Then add the oil and the bay leaves. Cook
the bay leaves for a moment and then add the meat.

Brown the meat on both sides on high heat. Add the sliced onion and cook for a
few minutes until it is clear.

Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, thyme, rosemary and flour, and stir
well until smooth.

Add the beef stock and stout; simmer, stirring, until the stew thickens a bit.
Add the remaining ingredients and cover.

Place the pot in a 275° F oven for about 2 hours, stirring a couple of times.
Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.