Braised Short Ribs
From the back of the Wolfgang Puck All Natural Beef-Flavored Stock carton

INGREDIENTS:

6 serving-sized pieces beef short ribs (about 4 pounds)
1 teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
10 cloves garlic, peeled
1 large onion, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
2 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 1/2 cups)
6 sprigs fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cups Cabernet Sauvignon or other dry red wine
4 cups beef stock

INGREDIENTS:

Season the beef with the peppercorns. Coat the beef with the flour. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in an oven-safe 8-quart saucepot over medium- high heat. Add the beef and cook for 10 minutes or until it’s well browned on both sides. Remove the beef from the saucepot. Pour off any fat.

Heat the remaining oil in the saucepot over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, carrots, celery, parsley, thyme and bay leaves and cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are lightly browned, stirring often. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the wine and stock and heat to a boil. Return the beef to the saucepot. Cover the saucepot. Bake at 350°F for 2 1/2 hours or until the beef is fork-tender. Skim the fat from the surface of the stock mixture.

Transfer the beef to a serving platter. Heat the stock mixture in the saucepot over medium heat to a boil. Cook until the mixture is reduced to 1 quart. Remove and discard the parsley and thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Serve the beef and gravy over hot noodles or mashed potatoes.