Need Comfort Food? Make Slow Cooker Pot Roast Tonight!

Whether you are having a hectic day or feeling post holiday blues, comfort foods help pick you up and bring some warm and cozy into your life.  A favorite dish of mine growing up was my Mom's delicious pot roast.  With a family of 7, my Mom was able to prepare beautiful meals that were within the family grocery budget and one pot meals were always a favorite.  Pot roast is a meal that's easy to prepare, and can be stretched with a variety of potatoes and vegetables.  My Mom always made her pot roast on the stove top, but I have modified the recipe to cook in the slow cooker.  It fills the house with an aroma that is good for your soul!

You need beef chuck roast, Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, a packet of dried soup and onion mix (found in the soup aisle), 1-2 yellow onions peeled and chopped, fresh carrots rinsed and cut into 1" pieces, 10-12 yellow potatoes rinsed and quartered leaving skin on, fresh or frozen green beans, and I like to add a frozen bag of peas to my pot roast.

Heat 2 tablespoons cooking oil in a skillet on low heat.  Brown the top and bottom of the roast. (Whenever I get the chance to visit LakeGenevaCountryMeats in southeastern Wisconsin,  I stock up on the amazing fresh roasts and meats they offer.  Their friendly staff is always so helpful with cooking tips and they offer great recipes on their website so check it out. )

 Remove from the pan and place in the crock pot.  Top with the soup, 1 1/2 cups of water, entire dried onion soup packet, onion, carrots, green beans and peas.  I sprinkle garlic salt, onion salt, and a generous portion of Chef John's signature seasoning I purchased after enjoying a cooking class last year at Lakegenevaschoolofcooking.  It has a tasty blend of salt, pepper, and garlic in one container! Then I cover and cook 8 hours or on low for for 8 hours.

A couple of options instead of adding potatoes to the slow cooker would be serving over buttered egg noodles or mashed potatoes on the side.  Enjoy and Happy Tuesday.

Girls Weekend at Lake Geneva Cooking School

I recently hosted girls weekend at our lake house.  As a Christmas gift, I had given gift certificates to lakegenevaschoolofcooking, owned and run by Chef John Bogan.  His cooking classes are an experience of a lifetime!  Chef John greets you with a delicious bellini cocktail made with peach nectar and chilled Prosecco. The class we choose was titled "Tuscany". We idulged in hot, aromatic Parmigiano Popovers as Chef John had us introduce ourselves to our fellow cooking partners.  We partnered up and each had a course to prepare.  As you can see from the menu above, we were in for quite a delicious dinner!  

We had our own cooking island to chop, dice, bread, saute, and season.  Meanwhile, there is dance music playing, wine drinking, singing and bogeying to the music.  

After each course is completed, baked, cooked, and/or chilled, we were seated at our formal dining tables and (yes, more wine)!  Each group serves the others as we anxiously waited to see who's group was the tastiest.  Winning wasn't as important as the memories you will take home from this truly unique and delightful experience.  

Chef John and I share the same thoughts that good food and conversation bring families and friends together.  Anyone taking one of Chef John's classes leaves with a feeling of family that will stay with you always.  

Thank you Chef John and we can't wait to return to another class.  At the top of my list is the Summer Thursday morning Farmers Market class, where Chef John takes the class to the Lake Geneva Farmers Market to hand pick locally grown fruits and vegetables.  See you then!