welsh braised beef with vegetables

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (you could use lard, if preferred)
• 3 pounds beef shank (or beef shin), cut into 2-inch chunks
• 1 pound welsh bacon (or smoked bacon), cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon wheat flour
• 6 cups - water
• 3 or 4 large onions (each onion halved and then cut into wedges)
• 4 medium carrots, sliced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 teaspoon summer savory
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 cup - light beer or cider
• 1 pound potatoes, cut into large chunks (or you can use baby potatoes, smaller ones whole and larger ones halved)
• 3 - leeks, rinsed and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces