I must admit. I was really reaching for the stars on this recipe. To this day, I am not quite sure WHAT made me want to cook a roast for my in-laws. (I speak of it, as if it was an eternity ago. It was 4 days ago)
I had yet to make a good roast. When I was living with MyMama, she would always tell me: Roasts are SOOOO easy in the crock pot, just throw it in with some water and veggies, and let it cook for ever!
Well wouldn't ya know it, when I get out on my own, with my very own crock pot, what do you think the first thing I was going to cook was? DUH! Roast! Well that one turned out fine. I mean it was pretty bland, and rather dry, so CLEARLY by fine, I mean merely edible.
The next one was similar, and the next, and the next....and the next: Are you seeing a pattern?
So when TheHubby asked for a roast, the same thing happened. It was actually an issue I have with most red meat (except for hamburgers)
So I was chatting with MyMama and I told her how I couldn't make a roast to save my life, and I NEEDED to know her secret. Well she told me: It's just what I have always done, add the roast, some veggies, some water, and a french onion soup packet.
Hold The Phone!
I distinctly remember her NOT mentioning the french onion soup packet in previous conversations.
So was THAT the secret ingredient I have been missing all these years?
I never got around to trying it, don't ask me why, I mean I went out and bought the packets of soup mix and everything.
So When TheHubby's parental units came to visit, I thought: I'll make a roast, and potatoes, and salad, and it will be delicious!
I'm not sure if you can hear my oblivious-ness to the fact that I HAD YET to make even a tolerable roast.
On top of all of that, I had always made roasts in the crock pot. And this one is certainly NOT in the crock pot. But for what ever reason, it didn't seem to phase me at the time.
As I am driving home with the groceries, the day of the dinner, It dawns on me:
I have probably just screwed myself.
<<gasp>><<groan>>
It was too late to put it in the crock pot, so my hands were tied.
Just keep chugging along.
I now give you:
"Perfect Pot Roast" & "Twice Baked New Potatoes"
I figured if the pioneer woman says it is perfect and fool proof, even my apparent inability to cook red meat couldn't screw this up.
I paired this with the twice baked potatoes, because, let's be honest. Who doesn't like potatoes laden with cheese?
The Crew
Generously salt and pepper the meat all over (I used Kosher salt, as it sticks to the meat better)(It also isn't as salty)
Cut the onion in half, then cut the ends off, and pull the peels off
In a large pot, add some oil and and turn it on high (let it get hot, but not so hot that it starts smoking)
Brown the onions on all sides and remove
Cut the carrots into 2 inch pieces and brown them as well, and remove
Add some more oil, if needed
Put the roast in and brown on all sides and remove
Add about 1 cup of stock to the hot pot, and whisk it around to de-glaze the pan
Add the roast back, along with the onions and carrots and enough broth to cover the roast about 1/2 way. At this point I also added about 1/2 of the dry soup mix (it was a spur of the moment decision)
Cover and put in 275 degree oven for about 2.5-3 hours (my roast was 2.3 lbs and this was a perfect amount of time)(use a meat thermometer to check to see if it is done, you want it to be at 165 degrees)( For a bigger roast, it would cook longer)
There you Have it!
Twice Baked New Potatoes
The Crew
Scrub the dirt off of the potatoes, place on a baking sheet and drizzle with oil
Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes (until they are tender).
Once they are tender, pull them out of the oven and let them cool a bit (otherwise you'll burn your fingers!)
Cut the potatoes in half, and with a spoon, scoop out the middle. Be sure to leave a thin rind of potato around the edge. (Mine are pretty messy, I didn't wait until they cooled, as we were famished!)
Mix the sour cream, cheese, cream cheese and the potato you scooped out (and chives and garlic, if you want, see original recipe)
Scoop the mixture into the potato bowls
Put back into oven until warmed through (about 20 minutes)
There you have it!
I don't know what I did or how I did it, but the roast was INCREDIBLE! I gave TheHubby a sneak preview of it before dinner, and he said: Can you please make that everyday for the rest of our lives?!
And he was right! It was just that good! Delicious! I didn't know what I have been missing!
The dinner was incredible! Everyone raved about it. And there was just enough left over so I could nom some more the next day at work!!
Luckily my roast worked out! And the pioneer woman is right! It IS pretty much foolproof.
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