Sparks from the Kitchen

My family doesn’t usually do much on Christmas Eve. This year though, since Husband and Mom and I and In-Laws were all off I decided to have a Christmas Eve dinner at my house. The evening was so much fun. We started with some easy pickies-different olives, some hummus, cheese and crackers and then moved on to dinner then had some dessert and exchanged some presents.  It seemed almost too perfect that it also started to snow while we were opening presents.  Not much-just flurries-but I couldn’t have planned a better backdrop. Thanks Mother Nature!!

The menu was very simple-pot roast, roasted veggies and ranch mashed potatoes–and it was perfect.  We had only a little of everything left-and those left overs were gone the next day.  Allow yourself time to sear the meat properly-it makes all the difference in the end.

The pot roast-so simple to cook and so delicious! My father in law proclaimed it perfect and the best he’s ever had!!  It was a flavorful comforting meal perfect for a holiday get together.

Christmas Eve Pot Roast

Ingredients:

• Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1  4.75 lb chuck roast*
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 whole medium yellow onions, peeled and cut into 2 inch rings then halved
• 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch rounds
• 1 cup red wine (I used chianti)
• 3 cups low fat low sodium beef broth
• 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 275f.
2. Salt and pepper the roast generously.
3. Heat the oil in a large dutch oven (mine is a 6 qt) over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Remove and set aside.
4. Add the carrots to the pot and stir them around for a few minutes until they’re slightly  browned. Remove and set aside with onions.
5. If the pan needs a bit more oil add it now.  Place the roast into the pan and sear it for about a minute (or until a nice brown crust developes), then repeat for all sides–even the ends. Set aside with the onions and carrots.
6. Add the wine to the pot and scape up all of the bits on the bottom with a wooden spoon.  Put the roast back into the pot and add enough beef stock to cover the roast halfway.
7. Put the onions, carrots and fresh herbs into the liquid in the pot.
8. Put the lid on and roast in the oven for 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Brown the meat so that it looks like this.

The roast was so tender that I couldn’t slice it-I just pulled the meat apart and served it that way.

If your roast is smaller it will take less time to cook. Plan on 3 hours for a 3lb roast.

I was also able to find some beautiful flowers in Christmas-y colors for the table. Red and white carnations with some really adorable puffy greens-they reminded me of something Dr. Seuss would think up.

Adapted from Ree Drummond via Food Network.