The Easiest Roast

I went to visit some friends for dinner and he made roast. This roast was the best roast I had ever had in my life. I asked him for his recipe and managed to jot it down in my phone in notes. A few weeks later, I went and got all my ingredients and tried it one Sunday cooking in my dutch oven. I took it to my parents and they enjoyed the meal.It was pretty darn good, but I am someone who doesn't have much time and depend on my crockpot weekly to get me through at least one night's dinner. I wondered how I could modify his recipe and manage to cook it on my crockpot. I got up early and browned the meat, dredged it in a good red wine, and added all the items, and it turned out still good, but wasn't the most tender roast. Yes, even with the wine and locking in all the flavors by searing the meat. The next time I tried it a little different and decided I had a winner. It also happened to be the easiest recipe of them all. Here is what my roast looked liked that morning before I left for work.

I did all this the night before so all I had to do was pop it in the crockpot and turn it on low.

The Easiest Roast

1 roast (size that fits your family, I usually buy a two pack at Sam's and freeze the extra one)
Morton's Kosher Salt
Pepper
Veggies (I use celery, onions, and carrots..I wouldn't recommend potatoes or they will be mush)
Spice bag full of spices (4 cloves of garlic, three stalks of fresh thyme and fresh rosemary)
1 carton of beef broth

Place all your veggies on the bottom with your spice bag. Drench in your carton of beef broth. Salt and pepper your meat generously. I would put quite a bit of salt but don't drench it or you will end up with a very salty roast. Place your meat on top and put the lid on. Turn it on low and go to work for the day. When you get home, whip up some mashed potatoes to serve with your roast. Let me know what you think. I hope your family will be as happy as my husband is when I inform him we are having roast for dinner!

Taste Like Lasagna Soup

Tonight I had the best soup I have had in a long time. I had been trying to find the recipe to try from Pinterest called Lasagna Soup. I googled and found this recipe from Paula Deen and another shocker is, I didn't alternate the recipe. Can you believe it? It actually tasted pretty darn good without my tweeking. If it does get too thick, I would add a can of chicken broth to thin it back down to soup like consistency. 

Ingredients

1 lb ground chuck
1   onion, chopped
1   green bell pepper, chopped
3   cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon thyme
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1   (32 ounce) box chicken broth
2   (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
1   (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cup broken lasagna noodles
1   (5 ounce) package grated parmesan cheese
2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
garlic crostini, recipe follows

Garlic Crostini:
1 thin French baguette
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves smashed garlic
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a large Dutch oven, combine ground chuck, onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until beef is browned and crumbles. Drain well. 

Stir in thyme, brown sugar, broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Add noodles, and simmer until noodles are tender. Stir in Parmesan cheese.

Preheat broiler. Ladle soup into 8 to 10 ovenproof bowls. Evenly sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Broil soups, 6-inches from heat, 3 to 4 minutes, until cheese is browned and bubbly. Add a garlic crostini slice on top. Serve immediately. 

For the garlic crostini: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Cut bread into 1/4-inch round slices. Place on baking sheet and brush each slice with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper; place in oven and bake until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Rub each side with smashed garlic cloves. 

Let me know what you think!