Italian Beef Shanks

Osso buco style braised beef ... does this make your mouth water or what?

Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
small onion, sliced
small red pepper, sliced
4 or 5 mushrooms, sliced
3 beef shanks
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp dry oregano
1/2 tsp basil
salt and pepper to taste
1  1/2 cups diced canned tomatoes

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet and lightly brown the onion, red pepper and mushrooms then remove to a plate.

You could tie string around each shank but I just snip the outer ring of fat around the shank so that as it cooks it will lie flat. (If you're going for presentation, use string) Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in the skillet and brown the meat on both sides.

Return the veggies to the pan.

Spoon the tomatoes in and around the meat and season well.

Cover and simmer for 1  1/2 - 2  hours.

You could thicken the juices with a little cornstarch but I prefer keeping it on the lighter side.