Mom's Sicilian Pot Roast

Another one from the Gooseberry Patch Family Favorites:

4 lb rolled rump beef roast
2 T. garlic flavored olive oil (i used regular olive oil)
2 (28 oz) cans whole tomatoes
2 (8 oz) cans Italian tomato sauce
1/2 c. water
1 T. garlic, minced
1 t. dried oregano
1 t. dried basil
1 t. dried parsley
1 1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
hot cooked rotini pasta

I didn't follow the instructions in the book. I just put it all in the crockpot on low right away Sunday morning (around 5) and we ate it after church (around 1). Really, I could have not added the water b/c we had to ladle out some liquid before we could slice the roast. And a little more time would have been fine- maybe even better. It was a DELICIOUS change from the usual way I prepare a roast! And I had originally planned on having company for this meal so we put enough meat and juice in the freezer that I think I'll add some sauce to and serve over spaghetti next week.

Steak Soup

First of all, not sure why this is called Steak Soup, but whatever.
I am really bad at letting the kids cook with me. I feel like we have very limited usable counter space and I like to just do it myself, BUT I am really working on that because I know it's good for them to learn their way around the kitchen and they really enjoy cooking. It's getting easier to let them help as they get older too.
We do "helper weeks" at our house because it's the best way for me to keep track of who gets to be my kitchen helper. This week Peter is my helper so I let him look through some cookbooks to choose something to make and this soup from Fix it and Forget it was his choice-

2 lbs ground chuck, drained and browned
5 cups of water (I used beef broth and eliminated the boullion below)
1 lg onion, chopped
4 ribs celery, chopped
3 carrots, sliced
2 14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes
10 oz bag frozen mixed veggies
5 Tbsp beef boullion granules (or 5 cubes)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup flour
2 tsp salt

1. Combine chuck, water, onion, celery, carrots, tomatoes, mixed veggies, beef granules, and pepper in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on low 8-10 hours or High 4-6 hours.
3. One hour before serving, turn to High. Make a paste of melted butter and flour. Stir until smooth. Pour into slow cooker and stir until well blended. Add salt.
4. Cover. Continue cooking on High until thickened.

I just realized that I forgot to do step #3- oops. Oh well, ours was actually healthier then!

Baked Potatoes

Okay, the oven is fixed so I really have no excuse for the lack of blog posts! Just distracted by life, I guess.

Tonight it's baked potatoes in the crock pot. Topping options will be diced ham, cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream, butter, and broccoli.

I'm really going to try to work out a new weekly meal schedule soon. Really.

Slow Cooked Pepper Steak - Fix- It and Forget- It

Sorry, I've been a slacker about posting this week. Two nights ago we went out and last night we had this. I was a little worried after I did the first step that this was going to be tough, but it was SOOOO delicious.

1 1/2 - 2 lbs beef round steak, cut into strips
2 Tbsp oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup chopped onions
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2 large green peppers, cut into strips
4 tomatoes cut into eighths or 16 oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup cold water
1 Tbsp corn starch

1. Brown beef in oil in saucepan. Transfer to slow cooker.
2. Combine soy sauce, garlic, onions, sugar, salt, pepper, and ginger. Pour over meat.
3. Cover. Cook on Low 5-6 hours.
4. Add green peppers and tomatoes. Cook 1 hour longer.
5. Combine water and corn starch to make a paste. Stir into slow cooker. Cook on High unil thickened, about 10 mins.
6. Serve over rice or noodles

Italian Beef- Fix- It and Forget-It

This is called Carol's Italian Beef and if you have the cookbook it's on page 129.

3-4 lb lean rump roast
2 tsp salt, divided
4 garlic cloves
2 tsp Romano or Parmesan cheese, divided
12 oz can beef broth
1 tsp dried oregano

1. Place roast in slow cooker. Cut 4 slits in top of roast. Fill each slit with 1/2 tsp salt, 1 garlic clove, and 1/2 tsp cheese.
2. Pour broth over meat. Sprinkle with oregano.
3. Cook on low 10-12 hours or high 4-6 hours.
4. Remove meat and slice or shred. Serve on buns with meat juices on the side.

I think this is the most flavorful italian beef I've ever had. I don't exactly measure the ingredients- just make some slits and stuff them full of that good stuff. Last time I doubled it and cooked it over night. Then I had a lot for the freezer which is what we had tonight. We like to have peppers on ours- like pepperoncini's or banana pepper rings.

Chalupa- Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook

3 lb pork roast
1 lb dry pinto beans
2 garlic cloves, minced (I used the jar kind)
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp dried oregano
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp salt
4-oz can chopped green chilies
water

1. Cover beans with water and soak overnight in slow cooker

2. In the morning, remove beans (reserve soaking water), and put roast in bottom of slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients (including the beans and their soaking water) and more water if needed to cover all the ingredients.

3. Cook on High for 1 hour, and then on Low for 6 hours. Remove meat and shred with 2 forks. Return meat to slow cooker.

4. Cook on High for 1 more hour

5. Serve over a bed of lettuce. Top with grated cheese and chopped tomatoes and onions.

I was going to make this a long time ago. Then when I got to the store and realized how much a pork roast costs, I changed my mind. Months later I noticed the recipe again and it sounded really yummy so I decided to just do it anyway. Trust me- it is SO worth it!! This is such a delicious meal and it makes A LOT. So tonight we're having some of the frozen leftovers.
I served it with corn tortillas. And of course my favorite bagged shredded lettuce. We had it for dinner one night and I had enough left to freeze 3 containers- one large and 2 small. The large one will be for our dinner tonight. I gave one of the small ones to my mom for a meal for her and my dad and I still have the other small one.