| One of the most satisfying and delicious home cooked | | | | to use. Use more or less depending on how big your |
| meals you will ever make is a pot roast cooked in a | | | | crock pot or slow cooker is. You don't want to |
| slow cooker, also known as a crock pot. It is especially | | | | overcrowd the crock pot. |
| wonderful during cold winter months. This easy to | | | | 1/2 Cup of Chopped Turnip |
| make, tender and savory pot roast recipe is sure to | | | | 1/2 Cup of Chopped Rutabaga |
| be a huge hit with your friends and family. There are | | | | 1/2 Cup of Chopped Onion |
| many variations to this dish and if you ask 5 different | | | | 1/2 Cup of Chopped Carrot |
| people how they prepare a pot roast, you will more | | | | 1/2 Cup of Chopped Celery (Look for celery with |
| than likely receive 5 different answers. While the | | | | celery leaves still attached. The leaves impart an |
| ingredients for making pot roast may vary from cook | | | | excellent flavor to the broth) |
| to cook, the method is generally the same: Season | | | | 3 Garlic Cloves Minced |
| then brown a piece of meat on all sides and then | | | | THE COOKING LIQUID |
| slowly cook the meat along with a mix of vegetables | | | | People use a variety of liquids to braise a pot roast |
| in some type of broth mixture until the meat is fork | | | | and add their own unique flavors to this dish. People |
| tender. | | | | use a combination of water, beef stock, red wine |
| CHOOSE YOUR CUT OF MEAT | | | | (choose a wine that you would drink, not a cooking |
| The very first step to cooking a pot roast is to choose | | | | wine) and even beer. I like to use simple water mixed |
| a cut of meat. There are several cuts of meat that will | | | | with beef stock. I usually use one part water to one |
| work for pot roast, but some are better than others. I | | | | part beef stock and use enough to where the roast is |
| recommend that you visit your local butcher and ask | | | | only submerged half way. |
| him or her to recommend a good piece of meat for | | | | LET'S GET COOKING |
| your pot roast. If however, there is no butcher shop | | | | Ok, we are ready to start cooking this beautiful dish. |
| close by, visit your local supermarket. Most | | | | Step 1 |
| supermarkets will put helpful labels on the meat telling | | | | Season the meat with salt and pepper to taste. In a |
| you what that cut of meat is generally used for. | | | | large skillet over medium heat, brown the meat on all |
| Common cuts of meat used for pot roast are Chuck, | | | | sides, in a tablespoon of vegetable oil. |
| Brisket, Top Round and Bottom Round. Most people | | | | Step 2 |
| prefer chuck as the meat of choice, but I find it a bit | | | | Place your chopped vegetables in the bottom of your |
| too fatty and prefer to use Bottom Round. Experiment | | | | slow cooker. Place the meat on top of the vegetables |
| with different cuts to find the one you like best. For the | | | | and then pour your liquid over the top. |
| purpose of this recipe, choose a cut of meat that is 3 - | | | | Step 3 |
| 5 Pounds. | | | | Cover the slow cooker and cook at the lowest setting |
| THE VEGETABLES | | | | possible for roughly 8-10 hours. Meat should easily fall |
| I like to use a variety of different vegetables when I | | | | apart when pierced with a fork and vegetables should |
| make this dish. It makes it more interesting than the | | | | be soft. Remove meat and vegetables and place on a |
| usual carrots, celery and onions that many recipes call | | | | serving platter. |
| for. The best vegetables to accompany pot roast in | | | | Step 4 |
| my opinion are carrots, celery, onions, garlic, potatoes, | | | | Now to make the gravy. Whisk together, in a sauce |
| turnips and rutabaga. You are free to use all of these | | | | pan, 1/4 cup of cold water and 2 tablespoons of flour |
| or just a few. The choice is yours and nothing is | | | | until smooth. Slowly incorporate 1 cup of the hot broth |
| written in stone. I just love the different textures and | | | | from the pot roast and bring to a simmer stirring |
| flavors that these different vegetables provide. Here | | | | constantly until thickened. |
| are the measurement estimates for the veggies I like | | | | Enjoy! |