On Sundays, I usually make ‘mega-meals’ which means a meal that is bigger than for the two of us. It’s a meal to split three ways – for us, for his parents and for my parents. Both our parents are aging and while they get “Meals On Wheels” – it gives me great pleasure to give them a homemade meal each week.
I’m am sharing with you the most incredible, flexible pot roast recipe EVER! Seriously, this recipe gives you the guidelines and basics…all you do is fill in the blanks with different, spices, fluids and herbs. I have had so much fun playing with this recipe. When I’m in the creative, exotic mood – I play with Chinese Five Spice and cinnamon in the flour mixture to get exotic depth of flavors.
This time I took the lazy way out for I didn’t want to spend much time in the kitchen…would rather spend it with my hubby. Today’s pot roast interpretation is the “Lazy Day” version.
I found the recipe on Epicurious.com and it is dated from 1963. Time tested for sure. Over the years, I have had fun playing with all the options.
I start with a basic flour dredge of 1/4 cup flour, 2 tbsp. Montreal Steak Seasoning and a good hefty shake of Lawry’s seasoned salt.
I had a 3 1/2 lb. chuck roast from a special at a local grocer. It was a bit fatty so I carved off all visible signs of the nasty stuff.
Before diving in and braising the beef, I prepared all the veggies that were going to go in to the pot. This time I used onions, garlic (lots of it!) and carrots. The recipe is so flexible that you can add your favorite veggies – I’ve used turnips, fennel and mushrooms in the past.
Speaking of carrots, I don’t skimp on fresh veggies – lazy day or not. I always buy a bunch of carrots with tops attached…fresh and full of flavor…and oh so pretty!
Next step is to line up your herbs and spices. Again, this recipe gives you lots of room for creativity! Today, I’m going the rosemary (2 sprigs), Worcestershire sauce (1 TBS) and bay leaf (2) route. There are so many variations of spices to play with…I like to go into the reviews of the recipe and see what other cooks have come up with.
A moment of digression here, I have the pleasure of having a delightful little spice shop near my house and I have sworn never to buy grocery store spices again!
Fresher!
Cheaper!
I love my visits to Heather’s and my chats with the owner over recipes…(another blog post for sure!)
Back to the recipe.
Veggies cut. Spices, herbs and seasonings lined up.
Time to braise the meat.
High temperatures. Frying pan. Canola oil.
Brown the meat on both sides until you get a nice crust on the meat.
Remove the meat from the frying pan, drain the excess oil and immediately throw in the veggies.
I add some fresh ground pepper, turn the heat down a bit and stir the veggies so they collect what’s left of the drippings from the beef in the pan. After a few minutes, I toss in a cup of red wine!
Stir the veggies and wine to collect all the flavors and toss it all over the braised meat in a dutch oven or roaster.
This is a LOW and SLOW recipe – better cooked at a low temperature of 300 degrees for 3 1/2 to 5 hours. Check the meat and when it falls apart with a fork, it’s done.
While it’s cooking, enjoy the smells that will permeate your kitchen…and enjoy your lazy day!
pat
March 14, 2011
Potatoes…..gotta have potatoes in it…..but I’m an Irish girl and we don’t do anything without potatoes!
lindalyell
March 14, 2011
Amen! I always serve mine with mashed potatoes on the side!
pursuenaturalny2008
March 15, 2011
I completely agree about the variation of spices. If I could cook I would probably list them year, but alas!
Great photos.
Astami T
March 15, 2011
lazy = me
pot roast = yummers
lazy day pot roast = definitely a recipe i can’t wait to try out! thanks for sharing and congrats on being freshly pressed!
rtcrita
March 15, 2011
Pot roast is the greatest! So good for Sunday family meals. My son use to call it “roast beast,” like in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The only red meat he would eat when he was little was my pot roast. Very nice photos!
lindalyell
March 15, 2011
I love that – “roast beast” – all 3 of my girls were vegetarians when they were growing up. I feel your pain!
Lakia Gordon
March 15, 2011
I’m having one of those lazy days!!
Khanum
March 15, 2011
awesome pictures. Congratulations. U got freshly pressed.
B.C. Young
March 15, 2011
I love a good pot roast. My wife makes a great one!
The Simple Life of a Country Man's Wife
March 15, 2011
That looks delicious. Husband would love it. Last night I made mashed turnips and carrots, with cream and salt/pepper. Still using up those garden carrots! It was good.
Thank you for sharing!
Through The Screen Door
March 15, 2011
Sounds yummy! :o)
Mikalee Byerman
March 15, 2011
Man, I wish there were a fresher, cheaper spice shop near my home. I’ll bet those spices make ALL the difference!
Beautiful recipe, photos and post. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
My Grandparents' Kitchen
March 15, 2011
A lazy day pot roast sound perfect for me. Today I thought about exercising, so I lied down until the feeling passed. 🙂
Awesome pictures as well.
Mavis Mathews
March 16, 2011
You LAY down … the past tense of LIE is … LAY. You LAID down yesterday. You have LAIN down many times. Not that it makes any difference, but just so you know.
lifecoachabby
March 15, 2011
Yum that looks delicious and is making me hungry.
AnastasiaVS
March 15, 2011
Beautiful photos. Makes me want to start cooking now!
enjoibeing
March 15, 2011
my stomach is growling as i type. looks so amazing. i can literally smell the aroma from my screen. great post. oh by the way im gonna use this recipe =]
myra22
March 15, 2011
Recipe sounds delicious! Now I’m going to have to make one. Headed to the grocery store after work!
ElenaSC
March 15, 2011
Yummy!
4myskin
March 15, 2011
That looks amazing! I can almost smell it from here. lol! 🙂 Congrats on a well deserved Freshly Pressed.
Rufus' Food and Spirit Guide
March 15, 2011
That looks better than any pot roast I’ve ever had.
lindalyell
March 15, 2011
Thanks! After looking at your blog, I take that as a BIG compliment!
huotm
March 15, 2011
I think I am going to like it as it is.
Mindy@FindingSilverLinings
March 15, 2011
I’m loving any lazy day meal! Here’s the link to a bunch of mine:
http://fisilis.wordpress.com/tag/recipes/
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
xo
Mindy
Mikey
March 15, 2011
I love pot roast. I’m going to try doing this. Fantastic recipe! Thanks!
cookthestory
March 15, 2011
Nothing says it’s a cozy lazy Sunday like a pot roast. It’s especially great if it’s raining outside. Was it? I make pot roast regularly and will try this one soon. Btw, gorgeous pictures!
lindalyell
March 15, 2011
I’m from Ohio…of course, it was raining or snowing 🙂 In either case, we watched a movie in the afternoon! Thanks!
thewonderingchef
March 15, 2011
The pictures are really nice! Im sure it tasted great as well:)
Passing Once
March 15, 2011
A big YUM!!!!! the images are amazing. They look good to eat. I will try this one Sunday. We have a Sunday meal with the whole family (in the Philippines we are used to big families 🙂 ) too. This would be a great meal. Thanks…
valjena
March 15, 2011
Ну так аппетитно выглядит!Непременно сама приготовлю.Я очень люблю сама готовить и это нравится моему любимому мужчине,с которым я живу уже 26 год.Ему будет вкусно от этого ленивого рецепта!Спасибо за рецепт!!!
lindalyell
March 15, 2011
Thank you! Here’s the English translation:
Well, looks so appetizing! Certainly she prigotovlyu.Ya love to cook myself and like my beloved man, with whom I lived for 26 were secured to a delicious recipe from this lazy, Thanks for the recipe!
Ava Aston's Muckery
March 15, 2011
It does look yummo – but it still kind of looks like work, Where is the easy part?
Blessings,
Ava
xox
lindalyell
March 15, 2011
It’s a matter of being organized, putting it in the oven and enjoying the rest of the day! Thanks for reading!
notesfromrumbleycottage
March 15, 2011
I have never thought to use the Montreal spice on my pot roast before. This I am going to try. Congrats on being freshly pressed.
I Made You A Mixtape
March 15, 2011
Your pics are mouthwatering… love the easy recipe! Thanks for sharing. Absolutely love your blog!
James R. Clawson
March 15, 2011
There is nothing like a pot roast with all the trimming! Thanks for sharing!
wovenstrands
March 15, 2011
love your photography.
evajoy
March 15, 2011
Yummy looking, this is a great blog! I am glad I stuumbled on it!
Harold
March 15, 2011
Agree looks like work, but worth it! 🙂 Also agree needs potatoes. Pot Roast= yummy! Gotta have my meat! Must try this one. Thanks! Congrats on being FP!
lindalyell
March 15, 2011
It’s really not that much work if you get organized…once it’s done, it’s done. Enjoy those taters!
toageornottoage
March 15, 2011
Good and good for you. Don’t you just love meals that can be cooked in one pot!
lilywillia9814
March 15, 2011
Looks so yummy, the only way to get lazier would be to use the microwave!
Rose
March 15, 2011
You are amazing!
I believe I want to become lazy for a day, just to make this 😉 Thank you so much for caring about both sets of your parents. Having a home cooked meal send them love and they know it.
Beautiful pictures, well done on the layout.
P.S. I use potatoes too-Roast is always served with celery, potatoes, carrots, garlic and onions around these parts.
bluemixer
March 15, 2011
I have always hated pot roast… but I’m starting to get the feeling, it’s because I’ve never had a good one.
lindalyell
March 15, 2011
Ha! Time to give it another chance!
noura
March 15, 2011
wow
johnhauge
March 15, 2011
sounds good. however, my mom and an aunt used to do a ‘golf roast’ which i still do several times each winter. it’s even easier to deal with than yours. chuck roast as well but i never ever cut off that good fat.
drink some red wine to cut it.
CrystalSpins
March 15, 2011
Celery. It needs celery.
lindalyell
March 16, 2011
That’s the beauty of this recipe…you can add any veggie you like! I don’t like celery so I leave it out!
Austin Girl
March 15, 2011
I absolutely love your food photography! Great post!
anjobanjo22
March 15, 2011
Great photography!
Through The Screen Door
March 15, 2011
This recipe looks awesome! All my friends are foodies so I re-posted this on my blog! Congratulations on being Fresh Pressed! :oD
lindalyell
March 15, 2011
many thanks!
Mel
March 15, 2011
Beautiful Photos!
whatsaysyou
March 15, 2011
Thank you for such a great post. I am a fan of pot roast and those pictures look yummy.
?123
March 15, 2011
wow, yummie!
Ed Williams
March 15, 2011
Definitely got to give this a try! Thanks.
D.A.S.
March 16, 2011
I don’t even like roast, but I can see myself eating some of that!
Melanie
March 16, 2011
Hey Mom!
Congrats on such a successful blog post. Now please send me some of this pot roast, oh and I would also like some of the donuts you made last week. Overnight shipping would be appreciated.
Love,
Your Hungry Daughter
lindalyell
March 16, 2011
How bout if we overnight ship you HERE! And you can help cook and take photos! hmmmm?
Melanie
March 16, 2011
Sounds good to me!!!
Leah
March 16, 2011
This looks amazing! And your photos are so beautiful. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed. I’ll be back soon!
Cams
March 16, 2011
The meat looks tender and juicy with the combination of vegetables
patsyporco
March 16, 2011
Lazy day means ordered-in pizza to me. I will definitely try this recipe on a non-lazy day since I never knew what to do with the Chinese-Five-Spice that I bought on a whim.
Chris
March 16, 2011
I made my version of this lazy day roast on 3/12/11 using 3 oxtails and a small chuck steak. I used 4 t Better Than Bouillon (vegie) rather than wine (to 4 C water) and did the slow braise in the oven like Linda. I added 5 garlic cloves, 1 onion and 1 fennel bulb (S & P) for the oven process. When the meat fell apart, I removed the vegies (discard or nibble on some) and separated from the broth. I refrigerated the broth to condense the fat. I removed the meat from the bones and removed any fat from the chuck. After the broth cooled, I removed the fat. 15 minutes before serving I added my potatoes and carrots, S & P, ( I don’t care for mushy vegies.) The flavor of this stew is to die for! This stew is for those on a budget that want gourmet taste (I modified the Joy of Cooking recipe, which discussed the historical connection to noblepeople eating the tails of cattle being tanned during the French reign of terror.)
brianhickey1
March 16, 2011
Congratulations on being freshly pressed. Your blog is well set up, your food is delicious, and your photography is great. I am going to try to add this blog to my posts
congratulations once again
cheapbagoutle
March 16, 2011
It’s Healthy to Have a Dog
People who walk their own dogs get more exercise.
fey's diary
March 16, 2011
Great photos! It seems that it was taken on the yummy magazine.
leadinglight
March 16, 2011
Sounds yummy and warming. Just the ticket for winter.
Van
March 16, 2011
Hello Linda. Your presentation is so appetizing, I feel like wanting to cook and eat! Great piece. I will try them with my own kitchenware collection. Thanks and goodluck! Vanessa
http://www.yoursmartkitchen.com
dedy oktavianus pardede
March 16, 2011
i always love the braised meat, it could melted in ur mouth….
nice pict too
Jennifer Avventura
March 16, 2011
YUM! This would be a huge hit in my house. Im going to have to give it a try. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed. Great post!
l0ve0utl0ud
March 16, 2011
The photos are fantastic, and everything looks delicious. Thank you for sharing!
manustawee
March 16, 2011
yum yum ^_^
jackphillips1992
March 16, 2011
i just failed my driving tes, i’m super pissed off, but this has made me feel better. it looks amazing!
lindalyell
March 16, 2011
Glad to help! Good luck next time! 🙂
marrow-minded fool
March 16, 2011
your pictures are gorgeous! keep up the beautiful work!
Julie Leithner
March 16, 2011
oh such a beautiful roast. I fall in love with food the more I read blogs like this. Love the photography. Why kind of camera are you using?
lindalyell
March 16, 2011
It is one of my most cherished possessions – a Nikon D5000….Christmas present from hubby!
sell tickets online
March 17, 2011
Nice preparation. Beautiful pics Lindalyell.
Recipe Chefs
March 17, 2011
The pictures look excellent. Thanks for sharing this post. Feel free to check out our recipes as well.
rsmacaalay
March 20, 2011
that pot roast made me hungry! That really looks good and tasty
manfoodblog
March 21, 2011
This looks and sounds delicious. Your pictures are amazing, too.
pat
March 21, 2011
I used this recipe to make short ribs and it was fabulous! My mother never put the veggies in till the end and I always thought this was how you were supposed to cook a pot roast, but it made all the difference to put the veggies in at the beginning! We loved it and this recipe will be used in my kitchen forever!
Traci
March 21, 2011
Looks delicious! Just made pot roast for the first time this past weekend. Next time I’ll have to try some of your suggestions.
The Cooking Channel
March 23, 2011
Amazing, love it!
Calogero Mira
March 23, 2011
Thanks. http://calogeromirafoodand.wordpress.com
Eftychia
March 25, 2011
Delicious and easy to make. Thanks for sharing!!
การ์ดแต่งงาน
March 29, 2011
I was new in the world of bloggers so please guidance yes, And thank you for sharing these on your blog, And your blog is very useful to me.
อุปกรณ์สำนักงาน, เครื่องใช้สำนักงาน
April 7, 2011
I have never thought to use the Montreal spice on my pot roast before. This I am going to try. Congrats on being freshly pressed.
ดูดไขมัน, Fraxel ,lvaser
April 12, 2011
That looks amazing! I can almost smell it from here. lol! 🙂 Congrats on a well deserved Freshly Pressed.