What is better food, better health?

Am I a paleo blogger? No. Do I believe health starts with nutrition? Absolutely. If you're looking for a manifesto on clean eating and arguments in favor of a paleo lifestyle, you won't find it here. Check out The Whole9. In fact even if you're not looking for something radical check that site out anyway. It's a great starting point. It's got links and articles and a whole bunch of science - data - about nutrition and how our bodies use macronutrients. I'm not a licensed expert but I listen to experts who back up their claims with real compelling data. And I've tried a few different things to "eat healthier" over the years - Weight Watchers, Zone, starvation (that was a brilliant one) to name a few. Nothing has been better for me and yielded better results than eating low glycemic with a paleo foundation (it's actually similar to Zone too, but with less precision). I have a busy schedule, a two year old, a husband, a full time job, I work out and I have a closet for a kitchen. I figure there must be a few people out there who can relate to some of that. I used to think eating healthy and making time for regular meaningful exercise was "hard." It really just takes some guidance, awareness, and enthusiasm. So here's a start - here's what I cook and eat (and sometimes what I read).

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Growing up my dad would make pot roast pretty often. My best friend in middle school and high school would come over on the weekends and she loved his pot roast so much that to this day both my dad and my brother refer to her as "the one that likes pot roast." He made it a bunch of different ways, often with cream of mushroom soup for the gravy, sometimes with just a thickened au jus. I've started to experiment and see if I can both re-create his and also make it my own. Here's one version (not Dad's version).

You'll notice on the ingredients list I don't say what amounts to use. The recipe really works no matter what - it's about cooking the beef long and slow, and getting enough flavors in there so it's not bland. Go with your taste. If you're new to cooking this type of dish, be more aggressive with the seasoning than you think you should - use 1.5 times the herbs and aromatics (like garlic and onions) that you think you should.

Ingredients:
Chuck roast (or any beef roast cut that's on sale)
Chicken broth to just cover the bottom of your slow cooker
Vegetables
At least one onion, chopped in large chunks
At least several cloves of crushed garlic
Whatever spices you like on beef
Salt, pepper

Supplies:
Slow cooker

Season the beef on all sides with salt, pepper, spices. If you have time and want to be fancy, sear the roast in a super hot pan with just a touch of olive oil. Or skip that. Place in slow cooker. Place onions and garlic around the roast. Pour chicken broth (or beef or vegetable) in slow cooker just enough to cover the bottom so the roast sits in a very shallow puddle. Put the rest of the vegetables in. Today I used frozen mixed veggies and baby cut carrots just because that's what I had. Use whatever you want to eat with your beef (except white potatoes) and whatever amount that you will need to match your beef portions. Turn on your slow cooker to low and if you have a timer set it for 8 hours. If you're lucky like I am, your slow cooker will automatically switch to Warm after the time is up. No need for knives when you serve - the roast will fall apart on your fork.


I made this today and I think next time I'll try to do a peppercorn dry rub on the beef for a day or two in the fridge before I cook it.


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