Betty Watson's Basic Pot Roast

Betty Wason's Basic Pot Roast

 

Serves 6 to 8

• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 5 pounds rump of beef (or other roast suitable for slow-cooking, such as chuck)
• 2 to 3 tablespoons fat or oil
• 2 onions, sliced, or 10 to 12 small onions, peeled
• 1 to 2 carrots, scraped and cubed
• Herbs and seasonings, as desired (we used bay leaf and thyme)
• 1 cup liquid (wine, bouillon, tomatoes, vegetable broth, etc.)
• Other vegetables, as desired (we used baby red potatoes)

1. Season the flour with the salt and pepper and pound the mixture into the meat with the edge of a plate.
2. Brown meat on all sides in the hot fat or oil. Add the onions, cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes. Add the carrots, herbs, seasonings and liquid. Cover tightly and simmer 3 1/2 - 5 hours, until meat is fork tender. Add desired vegetables during the last 20 or 30 minutes.
3. Slow-cooker variation: After browning the meat, transfer to a slow cooker. Pour off excess fat from the pan. Saute onions in the same pan until softened slightly, then add to the slow-cooker. Pour liquid into the pan, scraping up the browned bits. Pour liquid and loosened bits into the slow-cooker, and add carrots and herbs. Cook on low 8 hours or more, adding desired vegetables during the last 20 or 30 minutes. 

I made this for Sunday dinner and must say it's pretty darn good.  Ms Watson knows her stuff!  I used a smaller rump roast about 3lbs, but the same amount of flour.  I added 2 tsp of both onion and garlic powder.  I used 1/2 cup of white wine (all that I had) and 1/2 cup of water.  2 bay leaves and a pretty good size of rosemary.  Using a crock pot I put the carrots in first then the roast on top.  Added the onions after tenderizing in the left over meat oils then put them on top of the roast.  Cooked on low for about 6.5 hours then added small red potatoes.  Cooked still on low for about 3 hours.


I made gravy from the liquid in the crock mixing 2 TBS of melted butter and 3TBS flour then adding to the liquid.  Mixed and let simmer while I cut the roast and served up the carrots, onions and potatoes.

I think Ms Watson's pounding methods really works as the roast had a nice tasty crust.

Anglea Bennett's Rice Krispie Treats - Oh My Gosh Wonderful!

You've gotta try these:

2 cups brown sugar
2 cubes butter (1cup)
1 cup Karo syrup

Bring to a boil then boil for 3 minutes

Add
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Bring back to a boil then boil for 3 minutes

Remove from heat

Stir in 13.5 oz box of Rice Krispies

Pour in 9X13 pan sprayed with cooking spray.
Let set, cut and gobble them up!

Chicken Encilada Skillet

12 Corn tortillas, torn into bite size pieces
3 Cup cooked shredded chicken
1 10oz can diced tomatoes
1 Can green chillies
1 10 oz can red enchilada sauce
1 can 8 oz tomato sauce
1 cup shredded cheese
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp garlic
Dried cilantro

Spray a large skillet
Add corn tortillas and chicken
Mix well and cook over medium heat about 5 min or until hot.
Add diced tomatoes (do not drain), enchilada sauce, tomato sauce and seasonings stir over medium heat until hot.
Stir in 1/2 cup cheese cook for 5 min
Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese on top cover and let melt
Or pour into 9X13 pan sprayed with cooking spray then add remaining cheese and bake for 15 to 20 min in 350 oven.

This is perfect for left over taco meat, I used left over beef carnitas and it was very good.

My Meatballs

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef
1/2 lb Italian sausage
2 cups french bread crumbs
3 eggs
1 heaping T sweet basil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400

Prepare bread crumbs using day old French bread in blender or food processor
In a large bowl add all ingredients except water and mix well using hands.
Slowly add water and continue mixing gently until all is well blended.

Spray broiler pan with cooking spray

Using ice cream scoop form balls approximately 2" and palace on broiler pan.
Makes about 18 2" meatballs

Bake for 20-25 min until well browned with no pink.
Serve with your favorite sauce and pasta.

Donna's Spaghetti

Donna was one of my high school chums.  We did everything together.  Good times.  She gave me this when when we first moved out on our own.  She had her apartment and I had mine.  We took turns entertaining and cooking for each other.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
2 T olive oil
1 large onion - diced
1 large clove of garlic - smashed
2 cans tomato soup + 1 can water
1 can tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste
1 -2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 tsp salt
2 heaping T sweet basil
1 lb thin spaghetti

Instructions:
Brown meat and set aside
Saute onions and oil in large pot just until translucent
Add garlic and cook 1-2 min
Add meat, soup, sauce, paste, mushrooms, salt and basil
Mix well
simmer 2 hours

Boil water and cook spaghetti

Optional (now my friend, Annetta gave me this little trick and I do think it made the sauce better)
Add to sauce while simmering
2 T sugar
1 tsp anise
 

Amazing Pie Crust

For one 9" pie crust

3/4 cup shorting
1/2 tsp distilled white vinegar
1 T milk
1/4 cup hot water
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 - 1/2 tsp cornstarch

In a large bowl, combine shortening, vinegar, and milk.  Add hot water and whip until mixture is completely combined and smooth.

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, and cornstarch.  Add flour mixture to shortening mixture and stir just until dough comes together.  form into a ball.  Roll our dough between sheets of wax paper.  If dough is difficult to work with, refrigerate before rolling.

Lemon Cheese Pie

3 oz cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
3/4 cup lemon juice
1 T lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Blend all together pour into 9" par baked pie crust
Bake at 325 for 40 to 50 min until well set

 

Roasted Chicken and Corn Chowder
By Taylor
Serves 6
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 Anaheim chili pepper, seeded and chopped
1 (12-ounce) bag frozen corn kernels, divided in half
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
4 cups chicken broth
5 new potatoes cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2-3 cups roasted chicken breast ( torn or cut into bite size pieces)
5-10 drops hot sauce (more or less based on taste)
Directions:
In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions, bell pepper and Anaheim pepper. Cook while stirring for about 5 minutes until softened. Add half bag of corn, salt, pepper, cumin and thyme. Stir. Add chicken broth. Stir and add new potatoes. In a blender, purée cream, remaining half of corn and cornstarch. Pour purée into soup. Stir. Add roasted chicken to the soup. Season with hot sauce and additional salt and pepper if necessary. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes while stirring every few minutes.
Serve or refrigerate for later use.

Neiman Marcus Brownies

Neiman Marcus Brownies
1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
4 cups (1 lb) powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 300 and spray a 9×13 dish with cooking spray. Mix cake mix, melted butter and one egg to a soft dough. Press into the bottom of the pan. Mix powdered sugar, softened cream cheese, vanilla and remaining two eggs until smooth, about 1-2 mins. Pour on top of crust. Bake at 300 for 40-50 minutes until top is golden brown.

I had to cook mine longer about 65 min

Overnight Cimmamon Sticky Buns

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 T maple syrup
Dash of salt
Optional: 1 cup of your favorite nuts

18 frozen dough rolls (I use 16 frozen cinnamon crescent rolls)

The night before:
Spray bunt pan generously with non stick spray
Place dough rolls into pan

Melt butter and mix sugar, vanilla, cinnamon syrup, nuts and salt together.  Pour over rolls.
Cover pan with clear wrap sprayed with non stick spray.
Let sit overnight.

In the morning remove the clear wrap and bake in pre heated oven at 350 for 15 to 20 min until golden.
Let rest for 5-7 min then turn out on serving platter.
Yum!

Fruit Cake

Simmer for 20 min:
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
1 cup each: raisins, cut up apricots, pineapple chunks cut in half, and whole cherries

Add 5 T shortening while mixture cools
When cool add 4 eggs

Whisk together
3 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
 Mix with fruit, shortening and egg mixture

Optional - 2 to 3 TBS rum flavoring

Pour into 2 greased loaf pans 
Bake 90 min or until toothpick is clean

Judy's Cheese Cake

1 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar

Mix together and press into bottom of 9X13 pan
Bake at 350 for 5-10 min

16oz cream cheese
2 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
16 oz whipping cream

Whip cream until stiff
Cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla
Fold cream into cheese mixture

Pour over crust in pan (will be stiff)

1 to 2 large cans pie filling (optional 1/2 tsp almond extract)

Pour over cheese mixture

Let set in in fridge until ready to serve.


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Aunt LaVaughn's Dump Cake

 Ingredients:
1 large can crushed pineapple
1 large can cherry pie filling
1 box yellow cake mix
1+ cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup cold butter

Instructions:
Heat oven to 350
Grease 9X13 pan
Dump crushed pineapple in prepared pan
Spoon cherry filling over pineapple
Sprinkle cake mix over fruit
Sprinkle nut over cake mix
Shave butter over top

Bake for 60 min
Serve with whipped cream or ice cream - hot or cold

Yumm Chocolate Cake

Cake


• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package devil's food cake mix

• 1 (4 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1 3/4 cups water

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Glaze

• 3 tablespoons cocoa

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

• 1 cup powdered sugar (10X)

• 2 -3 tablespoons hot water

Directions:

Cake: Preheat oven to 350°.

Grease and flour bundt pan, set aside.

In large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix and chocolate chips.4

In another bowl, combine water, eggs, and vanilla mixing well.

Add egg mixture to dry mixture and mix with spoon until just blended.

Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until cake tests done when wooden pick in center comes out clean.

Cool 15 to 20 minutes before removing cake from pan.

When completely cool, drizzle cake with Chocolate Glaze.



Chocolate Glaze: Combine all ingredients in bowl.

Mix with spoon until smooth.

Cresent Rolls

½ cup warn (not hot) water, 1 pkg yeast (1 T) & 1 tsp sugar
Mix well – set aside
1 cube butter – melted
¾ cup milk
½ cup sugar
3 eggs – room temp
¾ tsp salt
5 cups flour

Add butter & milk to microwave safe bowl. Heat in microwave for apx. 45 sec or until butter is melted (let mixture cool to warm if hot) Add sugar, salt and eggs one at a time, mix well. Add yeast & sugar mixture should be frothy.

In a large mixing bowl add milk, yeast, egg, etc. mixture to 3 cups flour. Gradually add flour ½ cup at a time. Set aside until doubled in size. Turn out on lightly floured counter. Divide in half. Roll into like a pizza about ½ inch thick. Brush with butter. Cut into 16 equal pieces, roll up from wide end. Place each piece on greased cookie sheet and let raise about 30 to 45 min. Repeat with second half.

Bake for 12 min at 350, Brush with butter

Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns

Ingredients
 4 cups warm milk
½ cup oil
 4 tablespoons brown sugar
 4 eggs
 2 teaspoons salt
 2 cups whole wheat flour, fresh ground
 4 cups white flour
 4 Tablespoons yeast
Apx 3 cups White flour or bread flour, various amounts

Instructions
Add ingredients in the order iven to your mixer. Turn on mixer and add white flour until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Mix for 6 minutes. Remove and divide into 24-30 pieces. Roll into balls using your cupped hand. Flatten into burger size circles, place on parchment paper, 6 to a pan, leaving plenty of room for them to grow. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Let rise to double and then bake in a 400 degree oven for 5 minutes and then drop temperature to 325 degrees and cook for an additional 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Divides in half easily and makes 12 to 16 buns