I think we know where the season is headed. Cooler nights, frosty mornings, beautiful days. Fall has arrived. We will have a few more “summer like” days before we get hit with a harder freeze and we can’t get through a potato harvest without a week of cold rain and wind. So bring it on, I know that fall is the favorite of many, so enjoy!
With the cooler weather comes an appreciation for a hot meal. All the salads and cool dinners we’ve enjoyed this past summer have lead into an enjoyment for the heavier, gravy laden, pasta filled dishes we all grew up with. As adults, we find we have less time for the roasting and baking our parents and grandparents enjoyed. Voila! The crockpot/slow cooker is still here! So, dig it out, dust it off and prepare to come home to the smells and meals we grew up with. Have a great week!
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
1 onion, sliced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
(2 1/2 pound) boneless beef chuck roast
1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (1.2 ounce) package dry beef gravy mix
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1/2 cup water, or as needed
5 whole peeled carrots (optional)
Directions: Spray the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray. Spread the onion slices out into the bottom of the cooker. Spread the flour out onto a work surface. Sprinkle the chuck roast with salt and black pepper, and roll the roast in the flour to coat all sides.
Using the edge of a small, sturdy plate, pound the flour into the meat. Place the floured roast into the cooker on top of the onions. Whisk together beef gravy mix, ranch dressing mix, and Italian dressing mix in a bowl, and whisk the mixes with water until smooth. Pour over the chuck roast. Distribute carrots around the meat.
Cover the cooker, set to Low, and cook until the roast is tender and the gravy has thickened, about 8 hours.
I really enjoy this time with you each week and would love to hear from you. Do you have any requests? Is there a recipe you have been looking for or remember from your younger years? Can I help you find it? Do you have any recipes that are special to you that you could share with us? Please contact me at susieqcooking@outlook.com or c/o Pioneer Times, P.O. Box 456, Houlton, Maine 04730.
