Beef and Bacon Stew

You can call it beef bourguignon if you want to sound fancy—nobody has to know how much easier it is than the French classic. About the wine: Resist the urge to buy the cheapest bottle you can find, and choose a red wine that you'd be happy to drink, especially since you'll drink some of it and use the rest. And while serving this hearty stew with some torn bread is definitely the fastest way from point A to point B, it would also be incredibly delicious spooned over some boiled or mashed potatoes.