Guinness Pot Pie with Beer Biscuits

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Make sure the beef is cut into small chunks &ndash, around 1 inch in size, so the beef can cook through in the oven. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the flour and toss well to evenly cover the beef.
2. Heat a 5-quart enamel skillet/pot (or a large cast-iron) over medium-high heat. Add the oil and once it&rsquo,s shimmering, add the beef in a single layer. You might have to do 1 to 2 batches. Sear the beef on both sides until it is golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove the beef with a slotted spoon and set it aside on a plate.
3. Keep the heat until the skillet is on medium-low. Add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, stir in the onion, carrots, celery and garlic with a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in the thyme. Cook until softened, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the balsamic and use a wooden spoon to stir the vegetables and help scrape any brown bits of flavor from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the mushrooms. Let them cook for about 5 minutes until they soften. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 5 minutes.
4. With the heat on medium, stir in the Guinness and scrape the bottom of the pan again. Add the beef back (and any juices) to the skillet along with the beef stock. Bring the mixture to a boil then turn off the heat. Stir in peas. Spoon the beer bread batter (directions below) on top of the pot pie in ½, cup biscuit-like drops. Drizzle more olive oil over the top of the batter. Bake the pot pie for 65 to 75 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and set on the bottom. Be sure to gently check under the biscuits and see if the dough is cooked through. Add more stock if it seems too dry. Remove from the oven and let the pot pie cool slightly before serving.
5. Sift together the all-purpose and whole wheat flours into a large bowl. Stir in the baking powder and the salt. Pour in the beer and stir until a batter forms. It will be thick and bubbly. Let sit for about 5 minutes before spooning on top of the pot pie.