Recipe - Pepper Sauce

2 ounce Slab Bacon, Diced
2 lg Onions, Chopped
2 lg Carrots, Peeled And Chopped
3 lg Shallots, Minced
1 lg Leek, White Part Only, Well
Washed And
Thinly Sliced
2 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
2 tablespoon Unbleached Flour
1 Clove Garlic, Crushed
2 cup Hearty, Dry, Red Wine
1 Bouquet Garni
2 cup Brown Stock (See Stocks)
1 tablespoon Whole Black Pepper Corns,
Crushed
Salt To Taste
One fourth cup Brandy

This easy version of the classic pepper sauce clearly illustrates why some
oldtime combinations just cannot be improved upon. Serve this with beef or
game, especially pheasant. This sauce will also keep for two days in the
refrigerator. Rewarm over low heat before serving.

Saute the bacon in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat for 2 minutes.
Add the onions, carrots, shallots, and leek and cook until well browned,
about 12 to 15 minutes.Stir in the vinegar and simmer over low heat until
the liquid has evaporated, about 10 to 15 minutes. Whisk in the flour and
cook one minute more. Then add the garlic, wine, bouquet garni and stock.
Simmer over low heat for one hour. Stir in the cracked peppercorns and salt
then simmer for 10 minutes more. strain through a sieve lined with a layer
of cheesecloth. Return to the saucepan and add the brandy. Simmer 3 minutes
over low heat and serve hot.

Yield: About 2 One half Cups of sauce.

From The Complete Book Of Sauces by Sallie Y. Williams