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!

Slow Cooker Hot Beef Sandwiches

Now, this, ladies and gentleman is going way back for me.  This is one of my favorite comfort foods EVER.  I wish they were calorie free, fat free and all that jazz, but, they aren't.  If they were I could eat them at least 3 times a week.  No joke  But let me tell you what I realized about hot beef sandwiches

Not all of these sandwiches are created the same  In fact, some people have no idea what they are.  (GASP).  I know, right?  When I become an eastie, (moved to NJ) I wanted a hot beef sandwich.  I was missing home and wanted some HOME food.  Not pizza, no cheesesteaks, just as my husband calls it, "farm food".  Well, we went to our favorite diner, (shout out to Golden Palace in Vineland, NJ) and ordered a hot roast beef sandwich.  When it arrived, it was roast beef, swimming in gravy on a toasted hoagie roll.  Ok, it wasn't what I was planning, but, hey, it was as close as I figured I would get, so I enjoyed every luscious bite!  When my husband asked what was different I said, "Where are the potatoes?  Where is the sandwich bread?"  He was not nearly as concerned as I was but, to end this story on a positive note, I did find a hot beef sandwich that slightly resembled my most coveted treat from home.  You were holding your breath, weren't you? 

Now, while I enjoy all things homemade, I have to tell you, I tend to make fake gravy for this but I do it in a "nobody can tell" way..  I use that package that you add 3 or 4 cups of water to, but you could use 3 small packages, or as I will write the recipe, how I do it when I make homemade gravy

Make sure to make a batch of mashed potatoes to serve along side of this delicious sandwich, from my childhood and from, well.......dinner tonight!

You will need
4-5 lb. roast of your choice (I like very little fat for this recipe
2 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. poultry seasoning (I know, just trust me)
1 tbsp. dried parsley
2 tsp. salt (if making homemade gravy, reduce to 1 if using package gravy)
1 tsp. black pepper (or to taste, or not at all)
3-4 cups of beef stock or water with bouillon cubes
1/2 cup flour
3 tbsp. butter
kitchen bouquet (as desired)
ALL liquid left from your slow cooker

In your slow cooker, add your roast.  Sprinkle over onion powder, poultry seasoning, dried parsley, salt and pepper to taste.  Add in beef stock or water and bouillon cubes.  Place the lid on and cook on high for 6 hours.  I normally like my roast beef medium, but for this you want it well done.  Don't mess with it just let it go.

When your roast is done, remove unto a platter.  Leaving your slow cooker on high!

Now, to the stock left in your slow cooker, add in flour, butter and Kitchen Bouquet, and whisk that goodness until it is glossy, and thickened. 

(If using packages of gravy, add them right into the stock and whisk until no lumps appear)

Slice your roast beast and then slide it back into the gravy.  Place on warm until you are ready to serve.  Make a sandwich, add a side of mashed potatoes and your carb heaven has arrived!

This is perfect to make extra and freeze for later!

ENJOY!