Single Mans Easy Roast Beef Dinner

Day 32

It's December 10th here in northern Michigan and the ground is a autumn brown. I have an english cut chuck roast with carrots, potatoes and onion in the slow cooker. Another hour yet before it's finished and the meaty scent is making my stomach grumble.

If you like tender roast beef and you haven't had an english cut chuck roast in a slow cooker, then next time you have a hankerin' give this a try. Remember ENGLISH CUT CHUCK ROAST it has to be ENGLISH CUT (something to do with the area it is cut from).

Try this: 2-3 lb. english cut chuck roast
               6-8 medium potatoes
               6-8 carrots
               1 medium onion (I prefer sweet onion) optional
               1 can beef broth

Spray slow cooker with non stick spray (such as Pam).
Wash and halve potatoes and carrots and place potatoes in cooker first, they should cover the bottom, then the carrots. In a hot pan, sear both sides of the roast (keeps the juices in). Place roast on top of the carrots. If using an onion, peel and cut into quarters place next to roast. Shake can of beef broth and slowly pour over roast. Put on the cover and set for 8 hours. Then work up an appetite for eight hours. Do not be tempted to cut the cooking time short, I cut the time short by an hour once and the roast was chewy. I hate chewy.

Gravy? Heintz Savory Beef gravy in a jar. Like I said, "Easy".

Serve it up a salad and some crusty french bread.

Leftovers idea: Easy Stew. Cut up leftover roast, potatoes, carrots and onion. Cover with a jar of beef gravy. Heat and serve. Serve with bread.

Want to impress someone? Add a shrimp cocktail appetizer. Magnificent!!

Aside: I set a bag of frozen shrimp in the fridge to thaw, four hours later the shrimp is still frozen solid. Why do they tell you to thaw something in the fridge? It takes several days.

If you want to thaw shrimp quickly. Remove frozen shrimp from bag, place in warm water for about 30 minutes or so. Should feel rubbery and flexible when thawed. Too warm now? Place thawed shrimp in iced water for a few minutes to chill. Serve about 30 minutes before dinner with your favorite cocktail sauce.

Currently my favorite cocktail sauce is from Gordons Food Service, thick with just the right amount of horse radish for that little bite. I bought some Kens Steak House cocktail sauce and I can't wait to try it.

Until tomorrow,

Ken