Operation Cook Every Night... Night 1

Sunday night was night one.. I made.. I was all excited to start and the fact that I was starting with a crock pot recipe was even better.. The roast came out good.. James and his dad loved it.. it was only OK to me only due to the fact I have some weird thing about liking the food I actually cook.. I will have to get over that

Slow Cooker Beef Roast with Gremolata

To produce a successful slow cooker pot roast, the classic recipe needs a flavor boost (here, from sun-dried tomatoes) and less liquid than oven or stove-top versions. A mixture of garlic, herbs, and lemon rind, gremolata is traditionally served in Italy with Veal Shanks.

Pot Roast:

1  (2 1/2 pound) boneless cross-rib chuck roast, trimmed

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon olive oil

Cooking Spray

2 cups chopped onion

1 can beef broth

1 cup dry red wine

1/4 cup chopped drained oil-packed sun-dried tomato halves

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

4 Thyme sprigs or 1/2-1 tsp dry to taste

4 garlic cloves, crushed

2 bay leaves

3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 turnip cut into 1 inch pieces

1 rutabaga cut into 1 inch pieces

1 parsnip cut into 1 inch pieces

Gremolata:

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon chopped fresh fresh thyme or 1/4 tsp dry

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 garlic clove, minced.

To prepare pot roast, sprinkle roast evenly with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Coat slow cooker with cooking spray. Add roast to skillet; cook 5 min, turning to brown on all sides. Transfer roast to an electric cooker. Re-coat skillet with oil and add onion; saute 8 mins or until tender. Add broth and next 6 ingredients (through bay leaves) to skillet; bring to a simmer. Add broth broth mixture to slow cooker.. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours. Reduce heat to low; arrange carrots, turnip, rutabaga, and parsnip around roast in a slow cooker cook 4 hours. Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs from slow cooker; discard. Remove roast from slow cooker; shred with 2 forks.  Make sure you use the Gremolata on the meat.

To prepare gremolata, combine parsley and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well. Serve roast and vegetable mixture.

Wine Note: goes well with a nice Red Zinfandel.