Tag Archive | balsamic vinegar

4 Ingredient Crock Pot Balsamic Pot Roast

Plated Pot Roast I’ve made many a pot roast and this is the easiest and tastiest recipe. I came across this winning recipe in a magazine and after making it a few times thought I’d mix it up a bit by adding in balsamic vinegar. The result was even better than the already awesome pot roast recipe! The balsamic both tenderizes and flavors the meat while giving it a nice tangy zip. The best part is that I can throw everything in the crock pot before work, without having to sear the meat like most recipes require, and dash out the door. No joke, it takes less than 5 minutes to prep or a few minutes more if you decide to add veggies to the pot. Can a recipe be any simpler or any more rewarding?

Crock Pot Balsamic Pot Roast
~Serves 4. If you’re cooking for more then you’ll definitely want to double the recipe.

  • 2 pound boneless chuck roast
  • 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 package dry onion soup mix
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Your favorite pot roast veggies (optional)

1. Place chuck roast in the bottom of your crock pot.

Meat in crock pot

If you like, add optional veggies such as carrots, potatoes, parsnips, etc. Any softer veggies like celery, peas, etc. should be added two hours or so before serving so they don’t turn to mush on you.

With Veggies

2. In a small bowl, mix together the mushroom soup, onion soup mix, water and vinegar.

Mixed soup

Pour over the pot roast.

Sauce over meat and veggies

Cook on Low for 8-9 hours or on High for 3-4 hours. If you go the shorter method and decide to add veggies, be sure to check the veggies to make sure they’re cooked through.

Finished crock pot

Remove roast to a cutting board and allow to cool a bit before slicing. Be sure to slice against the grain! If you slice with the grain it’s almost guaranteed it’ll be chewy.

Meat ready to carve

Helpful Tip: This recipe makes a wonderful gravy which I often pour over egg noodles or mashed potatoes. The men in my family love that combination!

Plated Pot Roast

Kitchen Sink Salad

I’m not a salad person. At all. Sure, it’s fine when a little salad comes with my steak or spaghetti and meatballs but you’ll never catch me ordering a salad as my main. Unless it came with a side of fries. 🙂
So I’m not sure what happened but I’ve turned a new (wait for the pun) leaf. Maybe it’s spring in the air but I had this craving for the ultimate salad for dinner and I think I’ve got it in the bag. I gobbled it down as if it were a plate of spaghetti & meatballs though I wouldn’t have turned down the garlic breadsticks. Too delicious not to share!

Image

Here’s what went into my Kitchen Sink Salad (makes 2 large salads):

  • 1 bag of mixed greens
  • 1/2 a cucumber, cut into rings
  • 2 roma tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup of corn
  • 1/2 cup of sliced olives
  • 1 cup of garlic & cheese croutons
  • 1/2 cup of shredded ghouda
  • 8 ounces of cubed ham
  • 8 ounces of sliced turkey

I made my own dressing but you can use any bottled variety as well:

  • 1 T. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 t. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 t. red wine vinegar
  • 1 T. sugar
  • 1 t. fresh or dried parsley
  • 1 t. dill
  • 1 t. garlic salt

Mix together in separate bowl.

Toss the mixed greens in a large bowl with dressing. Plate the greens on two dinner plates then add all the toppings.