American Classic Pot Roast

image_printPrint to PDF too!

This recipe is the American Classic Pot Roast most common when we grew up.
The flavors are a rich beef enhanced by adding wine to the recipe.
This freezes well also.

American Classic Pot Roast
American Classic Pot Roast

Ingredients;

4 LB beef roast; bottom round or chuck are the best for this recipe
32oz unsalted beef stock (one cup reserved)
2 TBLS olive oil
1 cup dry red wine
1 TBLS Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet
1 large onion sliced
1 celery stalk cut into 3 pieces
6 carrots cut into 3 pieces
2 bay leaves
1 clove garlic cut into 3 pieces
2 TBLS cornstarch
Salt & pepper taste

Directions;
Dry the roast and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Heat a pot big enough for the beef to fit flat. Add the oil and once heated brown the roast on all sides, especially the side with the fat.
Remove the roast and set aside. Add the wine to deglaze the pot of all the browning pieces.  Measure 1 cup of the beef stock and set it aside.  Add the balance of the stock to the pot and bring it to a boil.
Mix the cornstarch and Gravy Master into the cup of reserved stock. Set this aside.
Add all the other ingredients to the pot and simmer for 3 hours covered or in a crock pot on high for 4 hours.
Remove the roast and all veggies.  Stir the cornstarch-Gravy Master and stock together and pour into the pot of juices.
Simmer until the juices thicken, 5 minutes or so.
Taste for salt & pepper and adjust to your liking .
Let the roast sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

 

 

 

Asparagus with Pasta

image_printPrint to PDF too!

This asparagus with pasta is a 10 minute prep and 15 minutes max to cook the pasta.  I used linguine but you can use any kind of pasta you like; Penne, Rigatoni, Spaghetti, mix white pasta with spinach pasta for a more dramatic presentation.
Great for a work night supper.

Asparagus and pasta
Asparagus and pasta

Ingredients;

1 LB bunch of fresh asparagus,  trim and discard the woody stems and steam for 5 minutes
1/2 LB pasta, cooked according to the box directions
3 TBLS unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 TBLS chopped parsley
juice of a 1/2 lemon
2/3 cup low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
dash of red pepper flakes
1/2 cup of heavy cream
Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions;

In a sauce pan add the butter and garlic and sauté for a few minutes.
Add all the other ingredients, except the cheese and simmer for a few minutes.
Pour over the cooked pasta, toss and sprinkle with the cheese and serve.

Mussels in White Wine Sauce

image_printPrint to PDF too!

These Mussels in white wine sauce can be served by themselves or over pasta.
They cook in minutes and are delicious !!

Mussels in white wine sauce
Mussels in white wine sauce

Ingredients;

1LB fresh raw mussels
3 TBLS unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 TBLS chopped parsley
juice of a 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup dry white wine
dash of red pepper flakes
1 cup of milk

Directions;
Soak the mussels in the milk for about 30 minutes and remove the little black  beard as it is called.  The milk will make the mussels release any sand they might have in them.
Rinse them off and in a pot big enough to have one layer boil an inch or so of water.  Place the mussels in the boiling water and simmer a few minutes as they open.
Discard any that do not open. Remove them from the water but save the mussel juice. Drain the mussel juice through a sieve saving about 1 cup. Set aside.
In a sauce pan melt the butter and sauté the garlic a minute or so.
Add all the other ingredients to the sauce pan with the butter and garlic and bring to a simmer.
Serve with a crusty bread or over 12oz of cooked linguine.