French Onion Crock Pot Roast

I recently heard that a key to having happy kids is to make sure that you eat dinner together, as a family, at least 5 nights a week.

Up until about a month ago I worked until 8pm three nights a week. I realized that my kids are getting older and I needed (wanted) to be there for them during those important hours after school. My husband was always home with them and he does a great job, but I missed helping them with homework, eating together as a family and winding down with them before bed. So, for that and some other reasons, I decided to take another job. I am now full-time as a physical therapist assistant in a nursing home and I am done everyday around 4:30 pm. It is so different from what I am used to in an outpatient orthopedic setting, but I am learning so much and I am enjoying the challenge.

I've been wanting to use my Crock Pot more often on days that I work, so we can eat dinner together soon after I get home and then get the kids off to karate and do homework etc.

Here is a really good roast that I threw together with the odds and ends in my pantry and fridge.

French Onion Crock Pot Roast

1 (2-3 lb.) roast (what ever you have or like or that's on sale)
1 can French Onion Soup
1 can Cream of mushroom soup
carrots
red potatoes (quartered)
onions (quartered)

Heat some oil in a skillet and brown the roast on all sides. Place carrots on the bottom of the Crock Pot and add can of French Onion Soup. Do not dilute. Place roast on top of carrots and arrange quartered potatoes and onion around roast. Add can of Cream of Mushroom soup on top of roast and veggies. Place lid on Crock Pot and cook on low for 8 hours and high for 5 hours. I made gravy with the juices left in the Crock Pot to go over the meat and veggies. I made a flour and water mixture in a pot on the stove and slowly added the juices while whisking it all together. Bring to a boil and simmer until mixture is thickened. Season as desired.

P.S.-This little gadget is amazing. It is a meat tenderizer that can turn a tough, cheap piece of meat into a tender and expensive tasting piece of meat. You just stab that heck out of it with the knife like blades. It's hard to stop stabbing it's so fun! This really made the difference in this roast in my opinion. Check it out.

Crock Pot meals are never too thrilling, but this tastes great, your family will love it and it is a time saving meal. Enjoy!

Comforting Crock Pot Stew

If you could take comfort and put it in a crock pot...this is it.

Tender potatoes, sweet carrots and flavorful stew meat covered in delicious gravy.

This stew even makes rainy days and Mondays feel better. Especially rainy days....

Crock Pot Stew

1-2 packages of stew meat, cut up and browned
1 package of pre-cut carrots
8 potatoes, peeled and quartered
onion, chopped (optional)

Mix Together:
1 can cream of celery (I used 98% fat free)
1 can cream of mushroom (I used 98% fat free)
1 (4 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix

Layer in Crock Pot:

1. 1/2 meat
2. 1/2 veggies
3. 1/2 sauce
4. remaining meat
5. remaining veggies
6. remaining sauce

Cover and let cook in crock pot for 4-6 hours. Cook on high for 1 1/2 hours and then on low for the remaining time.

Note: When I am short on time, I parboil the potatoes and carrots to make sure that they are cooked through.

This is how my daughter and hubby like it. Covered in fresh ground black pepper. That's way too much for me. :)