The Best Pot Roast!

Hey friends!  Been awhile, I know.  It kind of feels like I start everything out that way these days.  I am so ashamed.

HOWEVER, something major has happened.  I finally gave in to the "pressure cooker", multicooker, contraption you all have been loving for years now.  I wasn't going to give in, I just didn't see the point.  My husband got me an Instapot for Christmas and I exchanged it for an air-fryer (2 years ago).  Well for Mother's Day he got me the Crock Pot Multicooker, and I melted.   I was so excited.  I just finally wanted one.

Now if you are older like myself, you remember your mom canning in a huge, heavy, terrifying looking pressure cooker.  You thought it would explode and take out an entire neighborhood.  I can remember her watching the little do-dad and making sure it manually came to the correct temp and having to regulate it by burner temp and ack, it was way to intimidating to ever make me want to can anything or use one in any capacity!

Well, now, I am a new woman and t is a new day.  I made my pot roast with the pressure cooking setting and holy smokes my friends.  I mean I know it is almost summer and most aren't making pot roast but to me there is no season for whatever you are hungry for.  It could be 180 degrees and I could have a pot of soup on the stove.  I have been so hungry for pot roast, I couldn't stand it, and what better first meal to make with my new multi-cooker?!

Without further delay, let's get into this.  NOW, if you want to use a regular crockpot, wait for 150 hours for it to be done, etc.....go for it.  7-8 hours if you want it falling apart.  We prefer to be able to slice the beef and not have it be mushy like baby food meat.  Just sayin....
So if you want a plate that looks like this.....follow me kids....follow me.

You will need:
2.5 (ish) lb roast  (Use whatever cut you want, I use bottom round roast because I like how it keep me able to slice it)
2 T butter
Potatoes, carrots, celery, onions.
   I used potatoes I had that needed used, probably 6 baby golds, and I cut up 2 russets.  I used about 5 carrots that were small and I keep whole.  4 stalks of celery and cut up an onion if you so desire.  My husband hates onions so I rarely have them on hand.

1 lg, or 2 small brown gravy mixes.  You want it to yield 2 cups of brown gravy
2 cups beef stock
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp onion powder
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
pepper
salt

cornstarch
water

Ok, prep your veggies.  I thawed my roast out as well.  Set your pressure cooker to saute and add butter. Place your roast into the pot and let it brown on both sides.  Get some good color on that baby!  Color means flavor.  Also, salt and pepper each side of the meat!

Now, in a container combine, beef stock, gravy packet(s), onion powder, poultry seasoning, Worchestershire, and pepper to taste.  Whisk it together and pour over roast.  Add veggies to the top and sprinkle a little bit of salt, your potatoes NEED salt!

Place your lid on, lock it as per your pots directions, close the vent and for mine, I hit the meat button.  I do natural release as well.  If you have a larger roast you may want to manually set it for 45-55 minutes.

When the pressure has released remove meat and veggies, Turn pot back to saute. Make a cornstarch slurry, 2 tbsp water and 2 heaping tbsp cornstarch, mix until smooth and add to pot to thicken your gravy.  Oh you guys, this kind of perfection can't be explained.  This is how I have made my pot roast for years, but in the pressure cooking world, it is about 2 levels better than amazing.  You can slice your meat and add it back to the gravy or just let everyone add their own.

Here is a video from my YouTube channel!  Make sure to subscribe while you are there!

I hope you enjoy and let me know if you give it a try, regardless of in a crockpot or your Instapot or Multi-cooker!

ENJOY!

Swiss Mushroom Burger Mac

 Hellllllooooooo!!!  I haven't given you a new recipe for over a week I don't think.  I have a few ready for you, I just got busy as my oldest "little" (granddaughter) got here from Jersey last weekend.  We have been busy in magical forests and fairy wonderlands, swimming, playing, having sleepovers,  and eating spaghetti and meatballs.  I mean, come on, this is the life for a 7 year old!  It is so good to have her back for the summer.  So that is what I have been doing and while family and life always come first, I consider you all part of my life as well, so I hope this one potter, gets you all jittery in the joints around your knees!

My husband has been asking for a recipe like this for awhile and I obliged him.  ALTHOUGH, it is pretty different than how he presented it to me, I needed to turn it into a one pot meal.  It is summer, nobody needs hours of work, and busy moms and dads and grandmoms and grandpops we just need easy and delish!  This is going to be a hit.  Use fresh mushrooms if you like, I just used canned.  And certainly feel free to trade out the ground beef for a ground meat of your choice!  Don't skimp on the cheese, and make sure to let it sit a few minutes to thicken even more before serving! 

1 lb ground beef (turkey or chicken would work fine)
2 T butter
8 ounces mushrooms (2 cans or 8 ounces fresh, sliced)

3 cups milk
2 cups water (or beef stock)
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
16 ounces rotini or other short cut pasta
12 ounces shredded Swiss cheese (don't skimp, and if you like it a lot, add more)

In a large pot, brown your ground beef until fully cooked through.  Drain if needed and return to pot.  Add in butter and let melt.  Add in mushrooms and saute until softened.

I used canned mushrooms for this, you do you.  Turning your heat to medium-high-ish, add in milk and water, salt and pepper.  Stir and bring to a boil.  When the mixture is boiling add in pasta, give it a quick stir, turn the heat to medium and simmer for the amount of time listed on the pasta box.

Stir once or twice during cooking, but do it quickly and replace the lid.

When your pasta is cooked, turn off heat, add in cheese, give it a good stir, and replace lid for 2-3 minutes.

Stir again and let sit about 3 or 4 minutes with the lid off.  Stir one last time, and wa-la, dinner!

Enjoy another one pot dinner.  Oh make sure to serve this with sliced tomatoes and corn on the cob!  I mean...ya know, if you feel like it.

One Pot Chicken Florentine

One pot.  That got your attention didn't it?  One pot equals, easy, less dishes and we all know we LOATHE doing dishes.  Don't we?

Really, one pot just means easy to me.  And as I mentioned, not tons of dishes.  There is a little prep work, but it is so worth it.  A cutting board, a knife, a measuring spoon, the usual suspects but that is nothing.  You could even serve this in paper/plastic bowls or plates.  Sad isn't it?  Sad that a person (me) who encourages meals at the table, together, families, talking, communicating, laughing, is encouraging hurrying up dinner, with throw away dishes so you can get to your favorite drama of the night.  Oh well, that's me.

This is kind of an all in one, veggie, lean protein, and definitely the heavy cream food group!  I hope you enjoy this quickie! (teehee)  Sorry, that was completely inappropriate, but, hey..........*shrugs*

Make this in a large pot, something with a lid.  TIP: IF you have a ginormous pot that you have no lid for, whether you lost it, broke it, used it as a weapon in a murder case, etc.......use a pizza pan upside down for a lid!

You will need:
1 T. butter
2 lg chicken breasts cut into bite sized chunks, uncooked
1/4 tsp (heaping) minced garlic
3 cups chicken stock
12 oz. bow tie pasta
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup good grated Parmesan cheese
2-3 cups fresh spinach (NOT frozen)
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot melt your butter.  Add in cut up chicken and stir often, until the chicken is nearly cooked through. Add in garlic and pepper and stir for 1 minute.

 

Pour in the chicken stock, bring a boil and add in pasta.

Cover, and reduce heat to simmer for the time that is suggested on your pasta package.  Now, TWO minutes before the timer goes off, uncover, stir, add in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.

 

Stir in spinach.  Keep stirring to wilt the spinach, and when it is wilted shut off the heat.

Add the halved tomatoes and toss.  Let sit for 2-3 minutes before serving.  Serve this with some toasty, roasty, crunch bread!

ENJOY!!