Pot Roast for the End of Winter Blues, and BIG NEWS!

Snow Day Food

I have been gone a long time, and I have come back and given you pot roast. This winter has been loooong. And it is still cold. I am basically forced to cook this way. And also, as it turns out, pot roast is pretty delicious.

Pot roast is pretty basic, meat, carrots and onions, generally. Cook it for a long time and serve it over mashed potatoes and you have the ultimate winter comfort food. I added a couple things to boost the flavor, but generally, this is fairly standard. I served it over miso mashed potatoes for an extra umami kick, and I was happy. It’s a perfect antidote to the frozen hellscape that was this Boston winter.

I was looking back at a post I wrote over a year ago, with my goals for 2014, and my success rate was about 50%, but they were big ones!! I passed the Series 79 and 63, I went on an amazing vacation last April for my birthday, and we had so much fun, that that random collection of friends from all parts of my life went on vacation together again in October. I saw Shannon more, I DID eat more (real) ramen, I even made it myself! And, because it happened between then and now, even though it didn’t technically happen in 2014, I am counting it – I ran a half marathon! I didn’t think I could do it, but I did, and it was awesome, and I’ll do it again. I have a couple black toenails to show for it, and there were a few days there where the walking was not so great, but I did it. I ran 13 miles. And I kind of enjoyed it. And I think I might do it again…

Which brings me to the big news…who has two thumbs and no more boring office job? This cook! That’s right folks, I’m taking this show on the road (literally, actually, as I am also moving out of my apartment and buying a car.) B&G is now available full time for all your cooking needs!  There’s lots of stuff going on around here and I could not be more excited. Keep your eye on this spot for updates. Big things are coming soon!

What I’m reading: The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison and A Girl and Her Pig by April Bloomfield.

What I am listening to: Taylor Swift – 1989, The Best of Elvis Costello – The First 10 Years, and some podcasts.

I’ve missed you all so!

Classic Pot Roast (serves 4)
2-3 tbl canola oil
2.5-3 lbs beef shoulder roast
kosher salt
black pepper
1 large onion, half slivered, half cut in wedges and reserved
1 large garlic clove, slivered
1 tbl anchovy paste
1 tbl tomato paste
1 cup diced tomatoes (I use canned!)
2 tbl soy sauce
½ cup red wine
4 cups beef broth
4 large carrots and/or parsnips, peeled and cut in 2-inch pieces

Heat two tablespoons of canola oil in a large dutch oven or heavy high-sided pot over medium high heat. Generously salt and pepper the roast and brown on all sides until caramelized, 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove the roast to a plate and set aside.

If the bottom of the pot looks dry, add another tablespoon of the oil, and then add the sliced onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft and starting to brown. If they are browning too quickly, reduce the heat a bit and continue stirring. Add the anchovy and tomato pastes and stir, caramelizing them a bit until they are fragrant.

When the onions, garlic, tomato and anchovy are caramelized, add the diced tomatoes, soy sauce, red wine and beef broth and stir to combine. Add the beef back to the pot, bring to a boil, then reduce heat. The liquid should be at a low simmer. Cover the pot and let cook for two to two and a half hours, until the meat is tender and the liquid has thickened a bit. Add the carrots and/or parsnips, and the second half of the onion for the last half hour of cooking. Taste for salt and pepper and add as needed!

I recommend serving these over mashed potatoes that you’ve added a tablespoon of miso to (trust, they’re delicious) and a delicious green vegetable of your choosing. (And then maybe stick some leftovers in a grilled cheese.)