Beef Daube Provencal

This was tasty.  I made a few simple changes.  Patrick suggested it would be good with garlic mashed potatoes instead of egg noodles.  I concur.   (picture from Cookinglight.com.  Original recipe Here.)

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 12 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 lbs beef stew meat
  
  
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided $
• 1 cup red wine $
• 2 cups chopped carrot
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 1/2 cup lower-sodium beef broth
• 
  
  
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• Dash of ground cloves
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 cups cooked medium egg noodles (about 4 cups uncooked noodles)

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 300°.
2. 2. Heat a small oven safe pot (or dutch oven) over low heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add garlic; cook 5 minutes or until garlic is fragrant, stirring occasionally. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon; set aside. Increase heat to medium-high. Add beef to pan; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove beef from pan. Add wine to pan; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add reserved garlic, beef, remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, carrot, and next 8 ingredients (through bay leaf), and bring to a boil.
3. 3. Cover and bake at 300° for 2 1/2 hours or until beef is tender. Discard bay leaf. Serve over noodles.
4. Note: To make in a slow cooker, prepare through Step 2. Place beef mixture in an electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours or until beef is tender.

Thai Cucumber Salad

3 large cucumbers, peeled, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch slices 1 tablespoon salt 1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 cup peanuts

1.	Toss the cucumbers with the salt in a colander, and leave in the sink to drain for 30 minutes. Rinse with cold water, then drain and pat dry with paper towels.
2.	Whisk together the sugar and vinegar in a mixing bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Add the cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro; toss to combine. Sprinkle chopped peanuts on top before serving.