MONDAY MENU ITEM: Crock Pot Bavarian Pot Roast

Just have to share this YUMMY recipe with you! I made this yesterday. My family rarely has red meat dishes. I just don't think it's that healthy, plus the only red meat I like is a good roast (I abhor hamburger - yuck!). And you just can't have a roast very often - too expensive! While I was working on a menu for this week, I decided to make a roast for Sunday's meal, but wanted something a little different than I normally make (Roast, onion soup mix, water - in a crockpot ALL DAY - the only way to cook a roast). I found this recipe online - I can't remember where...

Crock Pot Bavarian Pot Roast

Ingredients:

1 beef pot roast, about 3 to 5 pounds (I don't really love pot roast, so I used Top Round - nice and lean)
1 tsp. vegetable oil (I used Olive Oil - again, it's more healthy)
1 1/2 tsp salt (I use Mediterranean Sea Salt)
1/8 tsp pepper (freshly ground, of course)
1/2 tsp ground ginger
3 whole cloves
4 medium apples (I used Gala), cored and quartered (leave skin on)
1 sm. onion, sliced
1/2 c. apple juice or cider
3 tbsp. flour
3 tbsp water

Preparation:
Core and quarter the apples (I cut them into 8 pieces instead of 4), and slice the onions.
Place the apples and onions in the bottom of the Crock pot.

Trim all excess fat from the roast. Lightly rub top of meat with oil.

Sprinkle meat with the salt, pepper and ginger.

Insert the whole cloves in meat. Put the roast on top of the apples and onions.
Pour in the apple juice.

Cover and cook on a LOW setting for 9 to 12 hours (with the Top Round roast, I cooked only for about 8 hours, and it just fell apart!)

Remove the roast and apples to a warm platter when fully cooked. Turn the slow cooker to HIGH. Make a smooth paste with the flour and water and stir the paste into the liquid. Cover and cook until thickened. Pour gravy over the roast when serving. Makes about 6 to 8 good sized servings. (I didn't do the gravy part. It was taking too long to thicken, and my family was dying from starvation apparently, because they weren't patient enough for gravy. :-)

I served this with potatoes: I peeled and cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces - enough to cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Next came the onions - chopped, which I put all around the potatoes. I then sprinkled with salt, pepper, and creole seasoning, and stirred everything to distribute the seasoning. I put a few pats of butter on the top (ok, so this wasn't the most healthy dish - but it was good!). I baked for about 45 minutes, and then pulled it out and sprinkles the top with medium cheddar cheese. Back into the oven until the cheese melted. When I pulled it out, I stirred it to distribute the cheese and onions. We also had French cut green beans.

ENJOY! (My family did!)

Tuesday Tales - Memories with Grandma Carolyn

Today is my mother-in-law's 75th birthday. I've been remembering some of the things that have happened in the past with her and my kids. Here's some memories:

When Michael was born, Carolyn and Dick came to visit us in New Jersey. They were so nice to stay with Michael while Rick and I took Granter to the zoo. We both felt bad for Grant - going from an only child to a big brother! It was a fun day.

Once, when they visited us in North Carolina, Rick and I went with Carolyn and Dick to tour Biltmore. It was so much fun spending time with them.

When we lived in Pennsylvania, and Alex was born, they visited again. We drove down to Washington DC and visited all of the cool tourist attractions. I remember walking up to the Lincoln Memorial with them. It was on that trip that Carolyn broke her tooth and we had to find a dentist!

I seem to remember there was an episode with her white pants and an "accident" with one of the babies on the ferry in New Jersey/New Year, but I can't remember the details!

One of the fun times my kids had when they were little was when we went to Knoebles amusement park with Grandma and Grandpa Herron. Alex stood at the top of the bridge above the log ride, and got completely soaked!

Here's one of the fun stories Carolyn shared with me about Rick:
"When Rick and Kara first moved to New Jersey, Rick called me one day and was so excited. He said that they were in New York City and at the top of the Empire State Building. He just wanted to share the adventure with me. He told of all the things he could see from up there. I was very touched that he wanted to share his excitement with me."

I've known Carolyn for more than 28 years, and it's been a privilege being part of her family. She's got wonderful kids, and great grandkids - I'm sure she is proud of the job she has done as matriarch of this family. Happy Birthday Carolyn! We love you!