February Feast: Pot Roast Ala Cranberry

This is an easy pot roast recipe, made extra moist with the addition of canned cranberry sauce.  It could even serve as a special Valentine Day’s dinner, with little preparation and clean-up.  And, the cranberry sauce adds just a hint of red to the entree.

Pot Roast Ala Cranberry

Ingredients:

2- to 3- pound boneless beef chuck roast

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

3 garlic cloves, smashed

1 or 2 pinches herbes de Provence

Cooking spray

One 10.5-ounce can cream of chicken soup

One 14-ounce can whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 Tbsp. flour (optional)

1 Tbsp. butter (optional)

Cooked egg noodles or mashed potatoes for serving

Directions:

1. Sprinkle the roast generously with salt and pepper.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, then add the roast and brown it well all over, about 5 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with the herbes de Provence.
3. Coat a slow cooker insert with cooking spray or use a disposable slow cooker liner. Pour in the cream of chicken soup, then add the roast. Spoon the cranberry sauce on top.
4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours, until tender.
5. Carve the meat, place the roast on a serving plate (leave the liquid in the cooker), and cover it with foil.
6. To make gravy for the pot roast, give the liquid in the cooker a stir, add the flour and butter, and stir until melted.
7. Serve the gravy over the roast on top of egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

Enjoy!

The recipe and food photo shown above came from this cookbook:

The Happy Cookbook; A Celebration of the Food that Makes America Smile.  By Steve and Kathy Doocy.  William Morrow, 2018.

The original name of the recipe is “Dental Hygienist’s Pot Roast,” and there is an interesting story to accompany the recipe.  In fact, this book contains many stories that relate to the recipes of the Doocy family.  The book is an interesting read and a heart-warming account of how certain dishes make their way into the fabric of a family.  Food reminds us of everyday and special occasions, as well as the people that are often associated with these occasions.

Stay tuned for next month’s feast recipe, also from this cookbook, Flaky Ham and Cheese Sandwiches.

Stay tuned for the next historical post on February 15th: The Thruway Movie Theatre: Celebrating 50 Years.  See photos of the Thruway Theatre on opening night.