Beef & Beer Stew

There is no such thing like a good timing for a cold, however it would have been great, if it waited another week, after all, I've had so many plans! Of course a cold can not keep me away from cooking, however it makes no sense to experiment with new ideas. After all meanwhile it is the third day that I can't taste or smell anything. Therefore I thought to cook something with an intense flavour for lunch. I had the spontaneous idea of a beer and beef stew with cep polenta. The fact, that the beef was not actually a typical stewing meat did not bother me at all, I was just too eager to cook something flavourful. Well, unfortunatly, I've hardly tasted anything, so I must cook this soon again, once my taste buds are working again!

Ingredients: 
300 g stewing beef
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 carrot
2 celery stalks
1 tomato
1 onion
1 garlic clove
300-400 ml dark beer
1 bay leaf
2 twigs thyme
2 allspice berries
1 clove
1 small piece of cinnamon
handful of small onions
salt, pepper

Season diced meat and sprinkle with cornstarch and fry in hot oil, then set aside. Deseed and remove the skin of the tomato and sautee in oil together with the rest of the chopped vegetables and garlic. Add meat, spices and herbs, pour beer over it and cook it in the preheated oven over 160°C for 2 1/2-3 hours. Abour half an hour before the stew is ready add the peeled onions and season the stew before serving if necessary.