Come Into My Kitchen - Beef Bourguignon

Ingredients

• 3 pound beef chuck, cut in 2-inch chunks
• salt and papper
• 5 TBS olive oil
• 1/2 cup cognac
• 4 large carrots
• 1 large yellow onion, cut in chunks
• 4 large garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 750 ml. bottle full-bodied red wine
• 1 cup beef stock
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 pound white mushrooms, halved (quartered if large)