Lazy Sunday Pot Roast

PLEASE make this dish! It is so easy and more than amazing! I promise that your family and guests will love it! I made mine in the slow cooker - about 4 hours on high and it was out of this world!
Ingredients
2 tablespoons oil, or more if needed
1 (4 to 5-pound) boneless cross-rib pot roast or other chuck roast
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
2 medium onions, peeled, halved, and thinly sliced
1/2 cup cider vinegar (or substitute white vinegar)
3 bay leaves (I only used 2)
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped fresh marjoram (or 2 tablespoons dried)
2 to 2 1/2 cups beef stock
4 Granny Smith or other tart green apples, quartered, cored and peeled (I actually placed my apples in a baking dish with my potatoes and served them on the side)

Directions
I browned the meat, generously seasoned with salt and pepper, in a skillet with some oil. About 8 minutes each side. Then I placed it in the slow cooker with all the reamaining ingredients (except the apples) and cooked it on high for 4 hours (or until tender). The juice from the meat is out of this world! Makes great French dip sandwiches the next day!

For the original recipe, go here

Paula's Sexy Oxtails or Short Ribs

This is a MUST TRY!

I’m currently reading Paula Deen’s Memoir and she’s so sweet to include some recipes! I made this the other night with beef short ribs and honestly, I think I had 3 helpings!!

Sprinkle house seasoning over the short ribs and lay them in a big casserole dish. Sprinkle them with soy sauce – not drown them, just toss them. Cover them with sliced onions and a bay leave or 2, about a cup of water, and tightly cover with foil. Put in a 325 oven for 3 hours. When it’s ready, serve over buttered rice. (I had never tried buttered rice before I made this and - do it! It’s sooooo good!) You will love this simple and boldly flavorful dish!

House Seasoning: 1 c. salt, ¼ c. black pepper, ¼ c. garlic powder mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Steak Pitas

Cut up any steak into cubes and marinate in olive oil, fresh lemon juice, crushed garlic, s&p, dried oregano. Cook however you wish, I grilled mine in a grill pan. For the sauce, mix plain Greek yogurt with pressed garlic, salt, a dash of olive oil, some lemon juice and a dash of dried dill. Serve the steak with the sauce in pita bread.

Shepherd's Pie

I just made this and it was amazing! As usual, I changed a few things – but you can do as you wish!
Here is the recipe
Even though I love garlic, I left it out of the potatoes, and I only used one onion which was more than enough!

Lazy Sunday Pot Roast

A wonderful comfort food that my Mom made for us on Saturday. You MUST try this!
Here is the recipe.
And left-overs make great French Dip sandwiches!

Filet Mignon with Bernaise Sauce

Season steaks with Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper. Sear them in a hot pan with olive oil almost smoking. Sear about 4 min a side. Set aside and tightly cover with foil and let rest for 10 min.

Bernaise Sauce:
2 lrg. Egg yolks at room temperature
1 tbs. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. tarragon – white wine vinegar
½ tsp. dry tarragon, crumbled
¾ c. hot melted butter (not boiling)

Combine yolks, lemon juice, vinegar and tarragon in a blender and process until mixed. With motor running on low, add about ¼ c. butter in a steady stream. Increase the speed to high and slowly add remaining butter. Process until thick. Keep warm in a bowl over hot water.

When you plate your steaks, drizzle with the Bernaise sauce and enjoy!! (Add a butter poached prawn on top and it will be a meal you’ll never forget!!!)

Classic Meatloaf with Moma's Sticky Sauce

We are big lovers of the "loafy" around here!  I've posted another meatloaf recipe, The Kitchen Sink Loaf, but this recipe is a classic!
My recipe is adapted from  Everyday Food Magazine (my dinner lifeline!) I like to add chopped carrots and some herbs. Here is their recipe.
I served this with Poor Man's Mashed Potatoes (with the skin on) and steamed broccoli with parmesan.




(*) indicates things I have changed
3 slices white sandwich bread
1/3 cup whole milk
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 medium onion, grated
2 garlic cloves, minced *I only use one
1 large egg
1/2 cup ketchup *I don't use any ketchup, but put my Moma's Sticky Sauce on top
*1 carrot finely grated
*1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
*1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Place bread in food processor; pulse until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a small bowl; stir in milk. Set aside, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2.Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine beef, pork, onion, garlic, egg, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add bread-milk
mixture, and mix very gently with a fork (do not overmix).
3.Place meat mixture on prepared baking sheet, and form into a loaf about 9 inches long and 4 to 5 inches wide.
4.Bake, brushing twice with remaining 1/4 cup ketchup during baking, until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees, 45 to 55 minutes. Let meatloaf rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

*Instead of their ketchup steps, I bake the meatloaf for about 35 minutes, pull it out, and over it with my Moma's Sticky Sauce and return it to the oven for another 10-15 minutes.
Moma's Sticky Sauce:
1/2 c. loose brown sugar (not packed)
just shy of 1 Tbsp. worcesteshire sauce
1 1/2 tsp. mustard
3 Tbsp. ketchup
small splash of vinegar
mix with a fork and pour over meatloaf

Burgers on the Grill

BBQ Burgers
Corn on the Cob
Strawberry Shortcake
yep, it's just that easy!!  Using ground beef that is at least 80/20 gives you a much juicier burger that won't dry out on the grill.

Italian Beef

My friend Allison just sent me this recipe and I haven’t tried it yet, but I trust her because she is an amazing cook!!!
3-4 lbs beef roast
1 stick margarine
3 beef boullion cubes
2 t Italian seasoning
2 T garlic powder
salt & pepper
2 t oregano
Cook in crock pot for 7 hours on high or 9 hours on low.
The longer the better
Stir well, break up meat and serve on hoagie, steak
or sub buns.
(I think some Provolone and peppers and onions might be fun to add as well!)

Kitchen Sink Meatloaf

Everything but the kitchen sink!!
one to one and a half pounds of ground meat (can be turkey, too)
one can cambell's abc vegetable soup (beef stock or vegetarian)
one egg
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
worsteshire sauce
seasoning salt
garlic powder
minced onions
all to taste (I use plenty of each)
ketchup and mustard mixed together
mix all ingredients except ketchup and mustard mix and shape into loaf. coat with ketchup/mustard mix and bake one hour at 350. usually best to let it sit a few minutes before slicing.