1976 The Junior League of Grand Rapids *Dillicious* Pot Roast~in the Slow Cooker

I've been eating this pot roast recipe since I was a child!  It's such a flavorful spin on traditional pot roast, that it makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  The recipe was originally written for a Dutch oven, but fitting more convenient modern cooking, I've converted it to the slow cooker.  If you grew up in Western Michigan, chances are that you, or most likely your mother, has a copy of the infamous Grand Rapids Junior League Cookbook that put Dillicious Pot Roast on family dinner tables.  This cookbook has a forward by Betty Ford and contains a treasure of Midwestern recipes.   Despite years of groveling, my mother refuses to give me her copy, so after MANY failed attempts, I finally scored my own on ebay.  Don't ask me what I paid...I got so frustrated one day that I set the sniper for a ridiculous amount, closed my eyes and hit "submit." Grin.

The key to any great pot roast is to buy the right cut of meat.  Get the wrong roast and you'll end up with a tough, chewy meal that will turn your nose to pot roast indefinitely.  I buy a boneless beef chuck pot roast.  It cooks up tender, juicy and falling apart on my fork. ( A great pot roast melts in your mouth, it does not stick to your teeth.)   If you are not sure what cut of meat you'll need, be sure to ask the butcher for help. 


Okay, so here we go...
Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp.  Put on paper towel to drain and then crumble.  Reserve bacon drippings in pan.


To minimize messy grease splatters I use one of these splatter screens. This makes stove top clean up so much easier.


Sprinkle pot roast with Lemon Pepper on both sides.


Brown both sides of roast in the reserved bacon drippings and then lay roast in the bottom of the crock pot.  Drizzle 1or 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings over the top of roast.


Combine Golden mushroom soup, chopped dill pickles and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl.


Spread sauce over browned pot roast in crock pot.  Set your crock pot on low and cook for 8 hours.


Serve over rice, buttered noodles or potatoes.  Crumbled reserved bacon and sprinkle over the top.


Now this is comfort food! 

Dillicious Pot Roast
By Maureen O'Donovan
*Adapted for the slow cooker from the 1976 Junior League of Grand Rapids Cookbook by me.

5 slices bacon
1 tsp. lemon-pepper
3 to 4lbs. beef pot roast
1 can (10.5oz) Golden mushroom soup
1/2 cup chopped dill pickle
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Cook bacon in a skillet till crisp.  Crumble and save for serving time.  Sprinkle both sides of roast with lemon pepper and brown both sides in bacon drippings in skillet.  Place browned roast in slow cooker and drizzle with 1 or 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings.  Combine soup, chopped pickle and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl.  Spread sauce over roast.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.  Serve over rice, buttered noodles or potatoes.  Sprinkle reserved crumbled bacon over the top. 

*This has been linked to The Joy of Desserts' Vintage recipe link party.

Enjoy!

~The Lemonista

Grand Prize Winning BBQ Ribs in the Slow Cooker & A Fun Fashionista Find!

I'm always on the look out for a great new recipe.  My Mother-in-law got me a subscription to Taste of Home magazine for Christmas last year and I knew I had to give these these ribs a try the moment I saw them.  You will not believe how melt-in-your-mouth, sweet, tangy, tender, fall-off-the-bone fantastic these ribs are.  This is the best rib recipe I've ever tasted.  And best of all--they are simple to make!


You will need:


Taste of Home Magazine's Grand Prize Winner BBQ Ribs
2 racks pork baby back ribs (about 4.5lbs)
1 1/2 tsp pepper
2 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
3/4 cups cherry preserves
1 T. Dijon Mustard
1 garlic clove, minced

Cut ribs into serving size pieces; sprinkle with pepper. Place in a 5 or 6 qt slow cooker. Combine the remaining ingredients; pour over ribs.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender. Serve with the sauce.

Okay, to serve up these delectable ribs, I decided to try out my new Mackenzie-Childs plate.
http://www.mackenzie-childs.com/Tableware/Taylor+Ceramics/Odd+Fellows/Taylor+Trio+Server+-+Odd+Fellows.axd

Ain't she a beaut!  I think, by now, the cat is out of the bag that I have a romance with my dishes.  Grin. 
Now wait 'till you see what I'm gonna do to her...

I made corn on the cob, added fresh watermelon and served hot rolls smothered in honey butter to dip in the sauce. 
Of course, no BBQ would be complete without a little Cole slaw.


Now just look at this happy man eating his dinner.  (Makes the bill for that pretty plate oh so much more palatable.  Don't ya think.) Wink.



I am so excited to share this fashion find with you all!  My dear friend, Laurel, has ventured her own business with the creation of these adorable fabric flowers. 


http://petalpusheraccessories.blogspot.com/



There is so much cuteness at Petal Pushers, that I can hardly stand it!  I'll definitely be adding these beauties to Elyse and my spring jackets!  Yes, that's right...she makes Mommy & Me flower sets!




She also does custom orders and any of these flowers can be made into a headband!


Stop by her blog to see how you can add a little punch of color to your (or your daughter's) spring wardrobe.

I thought I'd leave you today with some funny pictures of our crazy neighborhood birds. 

My neighbors have a colony of wild tropical Lovebirds that live in their palm tree.  No one really knows where they came from and they are not native to Arizona, but these zany little birds have spent years drilling elaborate tunnels and holes.  They sound like high pitched parrots and the kids find them hugely entertaining.




I'd guess over fifty of these guys live in that palm tree.  They like my lemon tree too, but thankfully don't drill holes in it!

Easy, Delicious Sweet Italian Sausage ~ In The Slow Cooker!

My slow cooker's been workin' like a pack mule this week.  I've been recreating some old favorite recipes and trying new ones.  Today, I'm kicking off my first post in a planned series of excellent crock pot meals. 
This first one is our family favorite.  It originated from a slow cooker recipe my former neighbor Kristi gave me years ago.  Over time it's evolved into my very favorite way to eat Italian sausage!  I hope you love it too!

Sweet Italian Sausage in the Slow Cooker

1 package Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage (see photo below)
1 T. Olive oil
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 15oz can diced tomato (do not drain)
1 can Tomato Soup
1 Knorr Chicken Bouillon extra large cube (see photo below)
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 whole onion, chopped (I like to use a sweet onion, such as vidalia)
1 whole red pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
Shredded Mozzarella cheese
Box Barilla Plus Penne Pasta

Brown sausage in olive oil in a skillet.  In slow cooker combine black pepper, diced tomatoes, tomato soup, chicken bouillon cube, Italian seasoning, chopped onion, chopped red pepper and minced garlic. Place browned sausage on top and cook on low for 6 hours.  Serve over Barilla Plus Penne Pasta (cooked per the instructions on the box) that has been sprinkled with mozzarella cheese.


I use Johnsonville's Sweet Italian Sausage.



I love the taste of sweet basil in the sausage but if you can't find it, mild or hot Italian sausage will work in this dish just fine.

I use Knorr Chicken Bouillon extra large cubes, but Knorr Beef Bouillon cubes taste great in this recipe too.


Cook Barilla Plus Multi-Grain Penne pasta per the instruction on the box.


Place a scoop of pasta in a bowl or plate.


Sprinkle with shredded Mozzarella cheese.


Scoop hot sausage and sauce over noodles and cheese.


Enjoy!