Easy Pot Roast

We are experiencing a very difficult time in our country. Stress is a huge problem for many families.

Here is a wonderful easy & inexpensive meal to make this weekend - to help sooth and comfort.

Try to shut the news and phones off and sit down together to enjoy a leisurely dinner of delicous pot roast over mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

3-4 lbs chuck roast. Shoulder if you can get is really good

2-4 carrots - chopped

2-4 celery stalks - chopped

1-2 yellow onions - sliced

1 large garlic clove - mashed

1-2 boxes of beef stock or broth or bone broth

1 cup water

1 TBL Worcestershire Sauce

1 TBL Balsamic Vinegar or glaze

1 cup red wine - anything on hand

handful of fresh thyme, rosemary

1 bay leaf - if on hand

olive oil

Ingredients for Mashed Potatoes

5-8 Yukon gold - peeled and quartered

2 TBL cold butter

1/3 cup to 1/2 cup hot milk or half and half

Salt and black pepper

Directions for mashed. Boil potatoes in generously salted water until very tender. Drain well. Add back into hot pot and add the hot milk first. Use a whisk and mix well - then add the cold butter. Stir but not too long. Mix until you have really nice creamy mashed potatoes. *Add a little more milk if needed.

Finish with salt and black pepper.

For the Pot Roast:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Season the beef all over with salt and black pepper. When the meat comes up to room temperature add olive oil into the bottom of your selected Dutch oven or deep sided casserole dish and place on medium high heat.

When the oil is really hot and shimmering, sear all sides of your pot roast for 2 minutes each side.

Remove and allow to rest.

Put all your chopped vegetables into the residual oil adding more oil if needed. Sauté for 2-3 minutes. Stir and add all your herbs, the garlic and salt and pepper.

When the veggies are beginning to color add all your liquids. Stir well and add the meat back.

If the liquid is not just at the top of your meat - add a little more water.

Bring to a light boil. Cover and place your baking dish into the oven.

Bake for 2 1/2 hours - 3 hours.

ENJOY!