Pepper Steak in a Bowl - real comfort food

Well, it might be spring, but cold nights are still with us, which makes it just fine to be trying out recipes from my latest aquisition, - yep - another birthday has come and gone and the wonderful gift vouchers are still giving...giving...giving. 
I used part of one voucher to Snaffle a copy of Gary Mehigan's cook book 'Comfort Food', well worth the purchase, I've always said that if you see a recipe you love in a book, grab the book, it's worth the purchase price, well this book looks like being a well loved cook book.  There are many recipes that interest, but Garry Mehigan's Tuscan Beef Stew with Black Pepper and Potatoes is going to be a family fave........Mehigan justifiabyly describes this dish as pepper steak in a bowl.

There are great instructions in Garry Megigan's book, and I would encourage you to buy it.

Pics of the steps of how I created this rather warming and comforting dish.

and of course, because I am only cooking for three serves, and didn't have all the right ingredients, this is what I used.
1 brown onion, cut into wedges
2 cloves garlic, chopped finely
3 dutch carrots, cut into chunks
600grms diced beef - bought as such from butcher, which I heavily coated with cracked black pepper on both sides.
1 thick slice bacon, (the recipe calls for pancetta, sadly the butcher only had wafer thin slices, so I opted for some of his bacon, using just the meaty parts, leaving the fat for the dogs dinners.
thyme sprigs, bay leaf,
1 litre fluid, made from about 100/150 mils of each red and white wine and topped with water....should have been beef stock but sadly, none on hand.
Kipfler potatoes
Sno Peas
After browning the meats and vegies, I added the wines, stock and herbs and simmered away.  Adding some nice kipfler potatoes about 30 mins before beef being done and at the last minute, adding some sno peas for greens.
Mehigan suggests parsley sprinkled over and crusty bread to serve - really could have done with the bread, the juices were just delish and would have been wonderful sopped up with nice fresh bread....perhaps next time, and there will be a next time!!