Cooking Pot Roast in Slow Cooker - Recipe and Instructions

One of the most satisfying and delicious home cooked meals you will ever make is a pot roast cooked in a slow cooker, also known as a crock pot. It is especially wonderful during cold winter months. This easy to make, tender and savory pot roast recipe is sure to be a huge hit with your friends and family. There are many variations to this dish and if you ask 5 different people how they prepare a pot roast, you will more than likely receive 5 different answers. While the ingredients for making pot roast may vary from cook to cook, the method is generally the same: Season then brown a piece of meat on all sides and then slowly cook the meat along with a mix of vegetables in some type of broth mixture until the meat is fork tender.

CHOOSE YOUR CUT OF MEAT
The very first step to cooking a pot roast is to choose a cut of meat. There are several cuts of meat that will work for pot roast, but some are better than others. I recommend that you visit your local butcher and ask him or her to recommend a good piece of meat for your pot roast. If however, there is no butcher shop close by, visit your local supermarket. Most supermarkets will put helpful labels on the meat telling you what that cut of meat is generally used for. Common cuts of meat used for pot roast are Chuck, Brisket, Top Round and Bottom Round. Most people prefer chuck as the meat of choice, but I find it a bit too fatty and prefer to use Bottom Round. Experiment with different cuts to find the one you like best. For the purpose of this recipe, choose a cut of meat that is 3 - 5 Pounds.

THE VEGETABLES
I like to use a variety of different vegetables when I make this dish. It makes it more interesting than the usual carrots, celery and onions that many recipes call for. The best vegetables to accompany pot roast in my opinion are carrots, celery, onions, garlic, potatoes, turnips and rutabaga. You are free to use all of these or just a few. The choice is yours and nothing is written in stone. I just love the different textures and flavors that these different vegetables provide. Here are the measurement estimates for the veggies I like to use. Use more or less depending on how big your crock pot or slow cooker is. You don't want to overcrowd the crock pot.

1/2 Cup of Chopped Turnip

1/2 Cup of Chopped Rutabaga

1/2 Cup of Chopped Onion

1/2 Cup of Chopped Carrot

1/2 Cup of Chopped Celery (Look for celery with celery leaves still attached. The leaves impart an excellent flavor to the broth)

3 Garlic Cloves Minced

THE COOKING LIQUID
People use a variety of liquids to braise a pot roast and add their own unique flavors to this dish. People use a combination of water, beef stock, red wine (choose a wine that you would drink, not a cooking wine) and even beer. I like to use simple water mixed with beef stock. I usually use one part water to one part beef stock and use enough to where the roast is only submerged half way.

LET'S GET COOKING
Ok, we are ready to start cooking this beautiful dish.

Step 1
Season the meat with salt and pepper to taste. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the meat on all sides, in a tablespoon of vegetable oil.

Step 2
Place your chopped vegetables in the bottom of your slow cooker. Place the meat on top of the vegetables and then pour your liquid over the top.

Step 3
Cover the slow cooker and cook at the lowest setting possible for roughly 8-10 hours. Meat should easily fall apart when pierced with a fork and vegetables should be soft. Remove meat and vegetables and place on a serving platter.

Step 4
Now to make the gravy. Whisk together, in a sauce pan, 1/4 cup of cold water and 2 tablespoons of flour until smooth. Slowly incorporate 1 cup of the hot broth from the pot roast and bring to a simmer stirring constantly until thickened.

Enjoy!

Spaghetti Squash Recipes and Cooking Instructions

When cooked, a fork can easily poke through the skin, and the flesh will easily separate into long strands with a fork. The average 4 pound squash will give you about five cups of flesh. Use the "spaghetti" right away, or place in freezer bags in the freezer for use at another meal.

These best five ways to cook spaghetti squash are in the order of cooking time.If you have all day, set the crock pot on, or if you like that fresh baked smell to fill the house, bake it in the oven. If you just want to get it done and start eating as fast as you can, I would suggest the microwave. Try out all the different ways and see what you like best!

#1 - In the Crock Pot - Pick a squash that can fit in your crock pot whole. Pole holes through the shell with a fork, and place in the crock pot. Add a couple of cups of water, and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until fork pokes through skin easily.

#2 - In the Oven, Whole - Poke holes in the skin several times with a fork. Place the entire squash in the oven. Cook at 375F for about 1 hour, or until soft.

#3 - Boil in a Pot - Find a pot big enough to hold your squash. Fill with enough water to cover the whole squash and set to boil. When the water is boiling, add the squash and cook 20-30 minutes until fork pokes through skin easily.

#4 - In the Oven, Halved - Cut the squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Place open sides down onto a baking sheet and place in the oven. Cook at 375F for 20-30 minutes or until skin is easily poked with a fork.

#5 - Microwave in a Dish - Cut the squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Place squash in a microwaveable dish with the open side up. Add a few cups of water, and cover with saran wrap. Cook for 10-12 minutes. Let it sit for 5 minutes covered, then test to see if it is done, and cook longer if needed.

I found that slicing the squash in half and scooping out the seeds first, before it was cooked was easier then scooping out the seeds after, and trying to sort out the flesh from the seeds when cooked together.

Here are some good spaghetti squash recipes to use cooked squash.

Spaghetti Squash Recipe with Cheese

This is also a really quick dinner especially if squash is cooked ahead of time. If you like cheese, and squash this will quickly become a favorite dish!

1 large spaghetti squash cooked and prepared.

1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese, grated

1 cup tomatoes, chopped

1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley

Mix all ingredients in microwave safe dish or oven safe dish. Microwave for 2-5 minutes, or heat in oven for 5-8 minutes until all ingredients are hot and cheese is melted.

Serve.

Spaghetti Squash Bake Recipe

It is so quick and easy to put together. Bake the squash ahead of time, then throw the ingredients together, and serve to the table only 10 minutes later. Makes a great lunch or dinner! Or use the leftovers for a snack!

1/4 cup chicken broth

1 cup sliced mushrooms

2 cups spinach

1/2 fresh tomato chopped

1 clove garlic minced

1 cup spaghetti squash cooked and prepared

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon basil

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 cup grated cheese

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients except cheese. Pour into a casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until heated through.

Serve. (Per Serving - 3.3 g carbohydrates) (serves 6)

Layered Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Preparing the squash then layering in individual bowls or a large family size glass bowl creates an interesting look and gets the taste buds going, before even lifting the fork to eat.

1 large spaghetti squash cooked and prepared

1 cup ricotta cheese

3/4 pound ground meat (your choice)

3/4 cups mozzarella cheese

1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Cook squash. Cook meat. Heat ricotta cheese in microwave. Heat up spaghetti sauce.

Layer in a large bowl, or in individual bowls, squash, ricotta cheese, meat, mozzarella cheese, spaghetti sauce, then parmesan cheese.

Serve. (Per Serving 14 g carbohydrates, 6.6 g fiber) (serves 6)

Basic Spaghetti Squash Recipe

This is a good starting point. It is a place to get ideas, and think of new things to add to your squash. All you need is:

Flesh from 1 large spaghetti squash, (about 5 cups)

Miscellaneous ingredients of your choice. Ideas are below.

After cooking and preparing the squash start pulling out all the ingredients you like or feel like adding today, and mix it all together, and serve warm.

This can be any amount to your taste any of the following:

Garlic, salt, pepper and other herbs and spices that you like, fennel, dill, curry, red pepper flakes

Meat choices are endless, ground beef, ground turkey, diced chicken, pork strips

For cheeses there is Parmesan, Feta, Cheddar, mozzarella, blue

Vegetable choices are also endless, zucchini, beans, tomatoes, spinach, Swiss chard, broccoli, peppers

If you are adding tomato sauce, put it on at the end as a garnish. This will prevent the squash from becoming mushy.

Have fun, enjoy and try new things!

Cooking Instructions For Prime Rib Roast

Have you been searching for cooking instructions for prime rib roast and still can't find a recipe that will give you the juicy and tender prime rib roast that you deserve? The reason may be that recipes only give you the basic ingredients for cooking and not the actual cooking instructions.

Let's start with cooking instructions for prime rib roast that begins long before the day you prepare your prime rib. First, you should choose the prime rib that will give adequate portions for each guest that will be attending your dinner party. You may have to look for rib eye instead of prime rib, some local grocery stores label prime rib as rib eye. You can ask the butcher if he would remove most of the fat from the roast that you choose. This will save you time preparing the roast. If you can not get the butcher to remove the excess fat, then you will have to trim it when you get it home. You should leave just a little bit of fat on the roast for added flavor.

The next step in your cooking instructions is to create a seasoning rub or paste. You can use ingredients such as coarse salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and even honey. Slit the roast on top about ½ inch deep all over the top and sides. Rub the seasoning rub or paste on the entire roast, including the bottom and sides, anywhere the meat is exposed. Place in a roasting pan or baking dish with a lid. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Most cooking instructions include using a meat thermometer and this is the best way to ensure that your prime rib is cooked to perfection and not overcooked. The internal temperature for rare prime beef should be 130 degrees Fahrenheit, for medium rare around 140 degrees Fahrenheit, medium around 150 degrees Fahrenheit and for well done between 160 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

For prime rib roast that is boneless the basic cooking time is for medium is a 3 to 4 pound prime rib roast should be cooked at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 23 to 30 minutes per pound, for a 4 to 6 pound prime rib roast you should cook it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 18 to 20 minutes per pound and for a 8 to 10 pound prime rib roast you should cook it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 13 to 15 minutes per pound. Remember, this is only an estimate and all oven do not cook the same. You should still use a meat thermometer to ensure the desired doneness.

The last cooking instructions, and maybe the most important, is to let the roast sit for around 15 minutes before carving. The roast will still cook and the internal temperature will raise another 10 degrees but this sitting time is important to hold in the juices and flavor.

Instructions to Make Peanut Butter Cookies at Home

Who doesn't like to munch those crunchy, yummy cookies? Cookies are my favorite snack. And Peanut butter cookies are my hot favorite. Actually I was very much interested in cooking right from my childhood, but I never had the real motivation to try out any recipe on my own. But now, I don't just bake my favorite cookies but many other interesting recipes like burritos, fajitas, pizzas and much more. Thanks to the cook books that my wife bought recently. Here is a quick recipe of peanut butter cookies for you

• Flour - 2 cups( all purpose )


• Salt - 1/2 teaspoon salt


• Baking soda - 2 teaspoons


• Oats - 1 cup


• Sugar - 1 cup


• Brown sugar - 1 cup


• Shortening - 1 cup


• Eggs - 2 or 3


• Peanut butter - 1 cup

First thing is to pre heated your oven to 350°F (175°C).Then you need to mix the flour, salt, baking soda together. And then mix the shortening, brown sugar and normal sugar. Then you need to add the flour mix to the creamed sugar mixture and mix them thoroughly. By the way you can use butter instead of the shortening, but shortening is good for getting the cookies baked in the shape you want and it won't get brown fast. Then you have to add the eggs and beat them well. Add peanut butter and oats and mix them well till you form a dough. Then you need to shape them as you want and place them on the cookie sheets. And bake them for about 10 - 11 minutes. That's it. Your cookie must be ready.

But interestingly, when I checked out the cook books I discovered that it contains large number of secret recipes of many famous restaurants like Pizza Hut, Red Lobster and Outback Steakhouse etc. And, the recipes are very well explained even up to the minute details, and also they have provided brief notes about where that recipe originated and things like that. Also, the ingredients of these secret recipes are easily available in our nearby grocery store. Now my wife says that we need not go to any restaurant and waste our hard earned money anymore. Isn't that good?