Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (37 page)

Salsa Chuck Roast

Hazel L. Propst

Oxford, PA

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 7-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

3-4-lb. chuck,
or
round, roast

1 Tbsp. oil

1 pkg. dry onion soup mix

2 cups water

1 cup salsa

1. Brown meat in skillet in oil on both sides. Place in slow cooker.

2. Add remaining ingredients to drippings in pan. Simmer 2-3 minutes. Pour over roast in slow cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 7-8 hours.

Serving suggestion: This is a good topping for
noodles
or
rice
, along with the roast’s rich broth.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Mexican Meat Dish

Marlene Bogard
, Newton, KS

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-10 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

4-lb. chuck roast

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

2 Tbsp. oil

1 onion, chopped

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1¼ cups diced green chili peppers

½ cup chipotle salsa

¼ cup hot pepper sauce

water

flour,
optional

1. Season roast with salt and pepper. Sear on all sides in oil in skillet. Place in slow cooker.

2. In a bowl, mix together remaining ingredients, except water, and spoon over meat.

3. Pour water down along side of the cooker (so as not to wash off the topping) until roast is ⅓ covered.

4. Cover cooker. Cook on High 6 hours. Reduce to Low and cook 2-4 more hours, or until meat falls apart but doesn’t dry out.

5. Thicken hot sauce with several Tbsp. flour, if you like, in the slow cooker.

Serving suggestion: This highly seasoned meat is perfect for
shredded beef Mexican tacos
and
burritos
.

Apple and Onion Beef Pot Roast

Betty K. Drescher

Quakertown, PA

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 5-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

3-lb. boneless beef roast, cut in half

oil

1 cup water

1 tsp. seasoning salt

½ tsp. soy sauce

½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

¼ tsp. garlic powder

1 large tart apple, quartered

1 large onion, sliced

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

2 Tbsp. water

1. Brown roast on all sides in oil in skillet. Transfer to slow cooker.

2. Add water to skillet. Stir with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Pour over roast.

3. Sprinkle with seasoning salt, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.

4. Top with apple and onion.

5. Cover. Cook on Low 5-6 hours.

6. Remove roast and onion. Let stand 15 minutes.

7. To make gravy, pour juices from roast into saucepan and simmer until reduced to 2 cups.

8. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth in small bowl.

9. Stir into beef broth. Bring to boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes, or until thickened.

10. Slice pot roast and serve with gravy.

There’s-No-Easier Roast Beef

Sue Pennington

Bridgewater, VA

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 6-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

12-oz. bottle barbecue sauce,
divided

3-4-lb. beef roast

1. Pour half of barbecue sauce into bottom of slow cooker.

2. Add roast. Top with remaining barbecue sauce.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 6-8 hours.

4. Slice roast and serve with sauce.

Variation:

Use an 18-oz. bottle of barbecue sauce if you prefer a juicier outcome.

8-Hour Tangy Beef

Mary Martins

Fairbank, IA

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-9 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

3½-4-lb. beef roast

12-oz. can ginger ale

1½ cups ketchup

1. Put beef in slow cooker.

2. Blend ginger ale and ketchup together in a good-sized bowl. Pour over roast.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 8-9 hours.

Serving suggestion: Shred with 2 forks and serve on
buns
. Or break up into chunks and serve over
rice
,
potatoes
, or
pasta
.

Variations:

1. This recipe produces a lot of juice. You can add chopped onions, potatoes, and green beans in Step 2, if you want. Or stir in sliced mushrooms and/or peas 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time.

2. For a tangier finished dish, add chili powder or cumin, along with black pepper, in Step 2.