Steak and Guiness Pie

1 kg of steak
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon raisins
5 onions
300ml Guinness
8 slices bacon
3 oz lard
Short pastry

Cut steak into bite sized cubes and coat each piece in flour.
In a pan gently melt the lard and add the steak and bacon cooking until it starts to brown. Peel and chop the onion and add to the pan stirring occasionally until it becomes transparent.


Place the mixture into a casserole dish, adding the raisins and brown sugar. Pour in the Guinness. Cover tightly and cook in a very moderate oven (325-350F) for 2 1/2 hours stirring occasionally. Add more Guinness or water if the rich brown gravy gets too thick.

Line a deep pie dish with half the pie crust, prick the pastry and bake it blind for 15 minutes. Add casserole filling and cover with a layer of pie crust baking for another 10 minutes or until the pastry is brown.