Mmmm…Mmmm…Tasty!
August 24, 2008 · Print This Article
“Mmmmm, Carol, I just love your meat!”
Get your minds out of the gutter, folks! These are, however, popular words when it comes to my cooking. Granted, there are countless ways to marinate, tenderize, flavor and cook every type of meat known to man. Almost all of them are more detailed and time-consuming. Martha Stewart would probably farm-raise her cattle and add 187 steps to the process.
Cooking should be fun. For most, that means easy, as well.
My goal today is to share an easy recipe of mine that has garnered many a fan during the past few years. It is fantastic for a small family and is easily doubled or quadrupled for larger gatherings.
Proving that some of the tastiest dishes are pure and simple, try this Italian Beef on for size. I prefer to serve it on toasted Kaiser rolls or French bread. I melt a bit of smoked provolone, mozzarella or sharp cheddar cheese onto the bread while it is toasting. What? I like my beef with a little cheese! Truth be told, I use whatever is stocked in my refrigerator.
The three most common side items I serve with it are pasta salad, mashed potatoes or spinach salad. It depends totally on if my mood is carb driven or if I feel like lighter fare. Today, let’s get to the meat of the matter.
Buy a roast. I use shoulder roast, typically. I love it when I find it for $1.99 per pound. Value in my meals makes me unbelievably happier to cook them.
Buy a multi-pack of Good Seasons or store brand mix for Italian Dressing.
Buy a jar of pepperoncinis or even mild-banana peppers. Personally, I think the pepperoncinis lend a much better flavor to the beef.
Now, this is the challenging “cooking” part.
Throw the roast into a crock pot. Add two packages of the Italian Seasoning mix and half a jar of peppers or pepperoncinis. You will also add about half the juice from the jar. On larger portions, I have been known to pour a bottle of beer into the mix, as well.
Cook it all night long. The next day, it should fall apart with a fork. If it does not, cook it a few more hours. This is not a science, it’s cooking. And, yes, I realize there are those to argue my view on the subject.
Once it is falling apart, let it cool down. As you take the meat out of the crock pot, taste it. Take a couple of bites and figure out if you want to add more Italian Seasoning, salt, pepper or anything else. If anything, I usually end up adding another half a pack of the Italian Seasoning. Do not add it to the crock pot, yet.
While you can do this part with utensils of some type, I am a fan of doing it with my hands. I am sure somewhere in the actual Cooking for Dummies, there is reference to wash your hands. I trust you all do this with as much anal-retentive attention to detail as I do.
Removing the meat from the crock pot, separate it fully and remove any fatty pieces still in tact. I also remove the cooked peppers/pepperoncinis. Why? Because they do not look pretty. Seriously.
Use a large spoon, cup or ladle to add some of the yummy sauce back to the meat. I tend to put a strainer over the meat to catch any fatty fragments. In other words, I don’t ladle. I just pick up the crock pot, pour the whole thing over a strainer and let the juices cover the meat.
Now that the crock pot is empty, I put the fat-removed, oh-so-tasty beef and all the juices back into the crock pot. I add any additional seasoning I deem necessary, as well as the other half jar or so of reserved pepperoncinis/peppers. Do not add any more of the juice from the jar.
Italian Beef can sit and cook as long as you like. It does not require a timer. Thirty minutes is plenty of time to cook the fresh peppers into the meat.
The meat will be ready to serve whenever you get your toasted bread out of the oven. It will look pretty and taste great. Maybe, just maybe, it will leave you feeling satiated and more satisfied with your performance in the kitchen. Serve and enjoy!
Are you still awake? With all this talk of beef, I don’t know whether to ask if it makes you hungry or horny! Anyone willing to cook this at home and report back on their success?
On 08/24/08 at 4:00 am
Jody said:
Oh wow. yum. I am gonna hafta do that! Means I need to go get a crockpot today. And a roast. And the rest lol. G’mornin to you, now I’m off to get coffee or go back to bed lol.
On 08/24/08 at 8:53 am
Carol said:
It is yummy…and EASY!!! If you buy the crockpot, I’ll make sure you get some easy and tasty recipes to use it for in the winter. I can’t imagine a winter without mine!
Coffee does sound good.
On 08/24/08 at 10:30 am
Jody said:
I’ve been meaning to pick up another crock pot for weeks. I think I’ve owned half a dozen or more in my ‘grown’ life. All of them have ended up meeting some kind of disasterous end, be it tumbling from an 8 foot high shelf, shorting out via idiot-man (need to make sure the cord is NOT between the outside and the inner crock before plugging it in), being lost in a move or storage, and more lol. I haven’t had one in about a year, and with my crew, wish I could find a 10-quarter or more so I could fit in a FULL meal. Maybe I just need two. Hmm. And yes, I’ll take those recipes!!
On 08/24/08 at 10:54 am
Carol said:
I have had the same Sears Crock for OVER twenty years. In fact, it was my mom’s..so it’s probably closer to THIRTY. Sucker is cracked on the front of the ceramic cooking space, but it cooks like a charm. Just buy a large slow roaster. They make so many cool ones these days.
If the recipe goes over well today, I imagine we will be posting more cooking-easy-friendly type of articles.
On 08/24/08 at 1:09 pm
Sarahh said:
My mom gave me a crock pot but it is soooo big! I never had enough food to fill it up.
I do love a good slow roasted meat though. Makes me want to bust it out and try it again. Love to make chili in the crock pot.
I noticed all the Fall goodies were in Bed Bath and Beyond last night so that means it must be time for stews, chili’s and chowders… Yum.
On 08/24/08 at 3:55 pm
Carol said:
Bed, Bath and Beyond….almost as dangerous as SuperTarget for me.
I have to remind myself if I truly NEEDED those items, I would already have them. But, I want new bed linens. I want them BAD, too!
On 08/24/08 at 5:45 am
Kiki said:
See Carol, this just isn’t on. Writing about food first thing on a Sunday morning when a) I am still in bed and can’t be assed to get up and b) I have none of the above ingredients anyway…. well that’s just cruel and unusual punishment.
Thanks a bunch.
On 08/24/08 at 8:55 am
Carol said:
*cough* I didn’t know it was going to post today!!! Pick up the three ingredients the next time you hit the grocery store. Try it then…
I am not cruel…REALLY! This is a new avenue for Eve and I am just hoping others enjoy the cooking article.
On 08/24/08 at 9:07 am
Kiki said:
I will definitely be trying it, the image of the sandwich has been taunting me for hours now. I am starving!
I LOVE cooking, but don’t do it half as much as I should or could. I’m a big fan of picking a random recipe and seeing how it works out. Oftentimes I don’t bother with recipes though, and just hope for the best! Haven’t killed anyone yet LOL. Cooking is therapeutic, and I’m sure I would be a calmer person if I just made time to cook brownies every other day
On 08/24/08 at 9:11 am
Meghan said:
What ya putting in those ‘Calming’ brownies, Kiki?? You getting all loose and liberal up there in the woods of Maine!?!?!
LOL
On 08/24/08 at 9:14 am
Kiki said:
I wish! At this point a “calming” brownie would go down perfectly. LOL at loose and liberal. I’m working on it.
On 08/24/08 at 9:38 am
Carol said:
That made me giggle….all loose and liberal in Maine! LOL!!! I will take one of THOSE brownies.
On 08/24/08 at 9:18 am
Carol said:
Honestly, this recipe does not leave the beef shaved…it’s shredded. But, it IS delicious, easy and keeps fantastic in the fridge.
Mmmmm brownies. I may have to bake today!
On 08/24/08 at 8:26 am
Karri said:
This actually made me want to venture into the kitchen for more than coffee, and that my friend is no easy chore!
On 08/24/08 at 8:58 am
Carol said:
You or Trista should have called me! I had NO idea this was posting. I see the much better pics and thank you…but I did like the pic of my roast with the 1.99 per pound price sticker!!!
On 08/24/08 at 10:27 am
Trista said:
Communication breakdown, my friend…we aren’t quite back into full swing yet, with our Kare still dealing with a lot o family business.
Sincerest apologies!
On 08/24/08 at 10:33 am
Carol said:
Oh..it’s all good. It’s not like I don’t visit here every day. I just would have visited MUCH earlier had I known this was posting!!! Just be sure to give me a heads up before Mommy Needs New Toys article posts!! I wouldn’t want to miss a minute of THOSE comments!!
On 08/24/08 at 11:00 am
Karri said:
Do you check your regular email daily too? ‘Cause I sent ya a posting schedule last week.
Next week…same bat time, same bat channel. Can’t wait for that one!
On 08/24/08 at 11:22 am
Carol said:
So we are posting my sexcapade toy story on a Sunday. How. Perfect!
And, no. I have not checked my other email in a few days. Bad, bad, Carol.
But, Bad Carol can be REALLY good, too! *giggle*
On 08/24/08 at 1:11 pm
Sarahh said:
Is it wrong that I like Bad Carol???
*giggles*
On 08/24/08 at 3:28 pm
Carol said:
Not at all….I think it’s hilarious! Just so you know, I am probably the “most likely to tell inappropriate jokes” kind of girl. No doubt, our conversations in person come October will reveal an entirely new side of me to you and Vic!
On 08/24/08 at 8:43 am
Meghan said:
I’ll accept this challenge! I do love me my crock pot!! I received a high end model from my employers last Christmas and I need to break it out again.
The last thing I made in it was a pork roast with an apricot glaze…I don’t even eat pork and it was amazing!
On 08/24/08 at 8:59 am
Carol said:
Yeah, Meghan….let me know how it works out for you. I want you to write the apricot pork recipe. That is my challenge back to you. It’s not easy to make cooking sound fun!!!
On 08/24/08 at 9:03 am
Meghan said:
And I understand the cheese/meat connection…I make this incredible rib-eye that calls for crumbled gorgonzola the last 5 minutes in the broiler.
It gets a huge round of applause!
On 08/24/08 at 9:08 am
Kiki said:
The last time you cooked that, the M’s and I were sat in our lounge drooling like Homer Simpson. God it smelt AMAZING.
On 08/24/08 at 9:19 am
Carol said:
Ooh…that just gave me an idea for another dish I make.
I love a bit o’ cheese with my meat.
On 08/24/08 at 1:03 pm
Sarahh said:
I do make a fabulous Mac and Cheese with all white cheeses. Got the recipe from the Southern Living magazine. Yummalicious…
I am all about the comfort foods.
On 08/24/08 at 1:06 pm
Meghan said:
I feel the need to slowly pronounce that “Suthin’ Livin’” with a raspy drawl!
I’m starving…
On 08/24/08 at 1:13 pm
Sarahh said:
ME TOO, I am making spaghetti tonight. I do a decent job with that.
I had a bit of an argument with some hangers, a swiffer, and a laundry basket which delayed my daily Eve fix. I think now after negotiations that we can all reside in the same dwelling. Assuming all of my demands are met.
I was never ever ever meant to be domestic.
On 08/24/08 at 2:35 pm
Carol said:
Oh…my…I have a picture to leave you! I was meant to be domestic. I know, I know…and, I want your recipe!
On 08/24/08 at 8:59 am
Chez Funk said:
Hi Carol,
Interesting place here. That roast is looking yummy I tell you.
m
On 08/24/08 at 9:20 am
Carol said:
Thanks for coming by! I appreciate the support, I tell you! The dish is tasty…and you can serve it over mashed potatoes just as easy as on toasted bread.
On 08/24/08 at 9:10 am
bryan said:
this is indeed a tasty dish. i’ve sampled, i mean gorged myself on it a couple of times. yum.
On 08/24/08 at 9:22 am
Carol said:
Aw…thanks, B! Yes, you are one of many of my closest friends who have all sampled my tasty meat!!! *giggle* I wouldn’t say you gorged yourself…but we did put a hurting on it the last time we shared it as a meal.
On 08/24/08 at 9:18 am
teri~michelle said:
Carol…I’m out to go get the roast and fixins…I’m gonna try this ..already have the crock pot..and like you told someone else…would love more crock pot recipes if you have them…being a full time student and mom..I’d really like to utilize my crockpot more often to save time and not skimp out on good meals for my kids…
thank you for this one..I’m out to try it!
love.you.
xoxo
On 08/24/08 at 9:24 am
Carol said:
Oh, TM…it is easy. Perfect for kids and can be served a bunch of different ways. I love the VALUE of it. I buy my roasts when they are on special for 1.99 a pound. CHEAPER Than lunch meat…healthier, too….And, tasty. Very, very, tasty.
ALWAYS appreciate your support, woman!
On 08/24/08 at 9:27 am
teri~michelle said:
anything at 1.99 a lb truly catches my eye…*ahaha*
I’m gonna make it for tomorrow’s dinner..and will let you know how we fared….with me cooking..one never knows..*HAHAH*
my support…ALWAYS woman…
xoxo
On 08/24/08 at 9:35 am
Carol said:
It is amazing to me how ridiculously giddy it makes me to cook a meal with sale priced items. I love, love, LOVE cooking. You should have seen me and the kids playing around as they helped me make lasagna last night. Many of our best memories are all in the kitchen.
I’ll be happy to hear how you and the dish fare…and truly do appreciate your support.
On 08/24/08 at 9:32 am
onedeepblue said:
oh yum I love easy crock pot recipes! Thanks Carol
Oh if you are running out to get a crock pot get the one with the three sized crocks I loooove mine
On 08/24/08 at 9:37 am
Carol said:
Thanks, woman! After your comment about my SPAMMING Eve-101…lol…I am MORE than thrilled you stopped by today. Three sized crocks? Omg…I get laughs at times because my crock pot is about twenty five years old!!! Seriously. In fact, my crock pot may be older than some of my girlfriends who shared my birthday with me. Thanks for reminding me of the hard time they gave me about the age of my crock!!! What an unexpected smile.
On 08/24/08 at 5:57 pm
Tanya said:
Seriously, while I was scanning comments - I SO missed a letter in crock while reading this one.
*sigh* Sorry.
On 08/24/08 at 6:30 pm
Carol said:
no worries…beautiful! do you remember how hard we laughed over the age of my crock? it really was an unexpected smile.
On 08/24/08 at 9:45 am
David said:
Dear Prometheus…
Its the recipe… The freakin holy grail of recipes.
My connection is so bad my computer freezes up at the slightest command, But i had to come here for this.
I love you muchly, Carol.
Great post.
On 08/24/08 at 9:51 am
Carol said:
Thanks, David! You have also shared this meal at my table! I appreicate you making the connection work long enough to stop by here today!
On 08/24/08 at 10:32 am
David said:
I even came back again.
Just to say Hi.
I’m gonna make this.
On 08/24/08 at 10:55 am
Carol said:
Yeah! Tell me how it works out for you…
On 08/24/08 at 9:47 am
E said:
In my just-awake haze, I’m thinking, “Do I have a crockpot? I think so…aww, fuck it.”
Seriously though, that looks pretty freaking great.
On 08/24/08 at 9:55 am
Carol said:
It is pretty great…and I have had the same “fuck it” thought as I wake up. Wait…I guess mine would be a weeeeee bit different!!!!
On 08/24/08 at 9:56 am
Trista said:
That was my reaction…do I have a crockpot…that actually works? Do I even know what a shoulder roast is??
But this does look yummy enough to make me want to figure it out.
Perhaps I can borrow my mama’s crockpot…hmm…maybe I can just ask mama to MAKE it for me…heh.
On 08/24/08 at 10:03 am
Carol said:
Come on, T! It’s meat. You KNOW meat!!! It’s easy….and if anyone needs to cook this for themselves and their kiddos, it would be you!!! Don’t make me go to http://www.target.com, buy you a crock pot and send it to your house. Because, well, it is precisely what I will do!
On 08/24/08 at 10:15 am
Dillon said:
Sounds pretty good… perhaps this’ll be the reason I’ll finally buy a crock pot!
On 08/24/08 at 10:18 am
Carol said:
Dillon…it goes FANTASTIC with beer. A good sammie and a cold brew….
Am I talking the right language? Thanks for supporting us over here!
On 08/24/08 at 10:19 am
Meghan said:
Outside of the recipe making me drool, I just wanted to comment that I think it’s so wonderful that you cook with your kiddos.
It’s such an amazing activity for children to role up their sleeves, measure and pour. Stir and taste, and then sit down together to enjoy what you made. There are so many lessons to be learned in such a simple project as baking cookies, or lasagna! Not too mention the fun we all have and how accomplished they feel at the dinner table.
Some of my favorite memories with my charges involve me covered in flour!
On 08/24/08 at 10:26 am
Trista said:
Excellent point…I should cook with my boys more than I do. We bake…but not much cooking. Because I fear my cooking skills are lacking.
But hey! We can learn as a family! And as they say, the family that blows up the kitchen together has good stories to tell for the rest of their lives, right?
On 08/24/08 at 10:34 am
Meghan said:
Blows up the kitchen together! LOL!
I once smoked up the kitchen with Bean there and it set off the fire alarm. Most kids might get nervous or scared at the noise, but not her. I’m holding her waving a towel around the damn thing and she kept saying ‘This is so exciting!!’.
To this day she never lets me forget that ‘May-May’ smoked up the house and Fireman Don had to come check on us.
On 08/24/08 at 10:29 am
Carol said:
We have great fun cooking together. I learned early on that if they are involved in the making, they are more apt to eat it, too! My kids learned to love eggs by making them. For me, it’s a joy to share the process, teach them a thing or two and for us to just have good old-fashioned fun. It beats the hell out of video games and the other alternatives. Now, if I could just teach them to wash the REALLY dirty dishes from our lasagna making adventure last night!!!
On 08/24/08 at 10:20 am
Anne said:
cool
On 08/24/08 at 10:31 am
Carol said:
When P gets a bit older, you will learn the fun and educational value of cooking with him. Plus, the added benefit is that he won’t fall for the first girl who makes him a decent meal.
I so appreciate your stopping by today.
On 08/25/08 at 2:40 am
Anne said:
Actually, he’s been having fun in the kitchen for months now. Granted he doesn’t have his hands directly into the pot — you know what I mean — but he loves to watch and test the meal as we go.
It’s one of the few ways I can tell if he’ll actually eat when it’s all plated.
On 08/24/08 at 10:41 am
Justice said:
Okay, I’ve got a 5lb pork roast that I got for $5…been in the freezer for a bit, but this will be the perfect recipe for me to try out. (I have been meaning over and over to get a can of coke and throw it in the crockpot but it just never worked out that way LMAO) I think we’ll aim to start cooking early tuesday morning for dinner. I’ll just add peppers, the mix, and bread to my shopping list
Besides, my crockpot misses me!!
On 08/24/08 at 10:59 am
Carol said:
With pork…I will be curious how it works. I use five other recipes for pork. But, I imagine it would still be tasty. I used mine for beef last week and for sausage, portobellas and onions last night. My crock loves me…and once it hits the counter, seems I use it a lot more! Invariably, it must get off the counter (cuz I like clean counters) but, while it’s out, it is used more than you can imagine. Thanks soooo much for the support.
On 08/24/08 at 11:12 am
cassie said:
I plan on trying it…just have to ge the urge tobe a bit domestic!!!
I’ll let you know how it turns out when I do!!!
PS Faye didn’t pass me by!! LOL
On 08/24/08 at 11:25 am
Carol said:
You have had the beef, Cassie. You know it’s worth it to cook it…and it is EASY. No domestic skill required. I know you don’t get online during the weekend, so I am thrilled to see you today.
Faye didn’t flood your property, I hope!
On 08/24/08 at 12:43 pm
Matty said:
That sounds damn tasty, actually. Especially since I am dying of hunger and about to partake in the rigorous cooking required for two microwaved corn dogs.
On 08/24/08 at 1:09 pm
Meghan said:
No, Matty - let us cook for you!
That reminds me of my first job at a Miniture Golf park…microwaved corn dogs and slushies! If I go grocery shopping right now I am going to spend $200 on junk food!
Must contain myself!
On 08/24/08 at 1:10 pm
Sarahh said:
I worked for my Grandfather in his store since I was 7. I made the meanest slush puppy this side of the Mason Dixon.
Sorry slushie for me is slush puppy. I wonder if they still have those…
On 08/24/08 at 1:32 pm
Meghan said:
I got the other side covered!
I’m going to have to drive out to the sticks and find a Fair before the sun sets. All I want right now is slushies, fried dough and unwarranted advances from a toothless Carnie…
Ahhh, Summer…