It's been a while we've had guests most of the last month and things have been a bit crazy. I made this last night and it was a hit. The rub might be a little difficult to recreate but it's essentially coarsely ground black pepper, dehydrated red and green bell peppers, minced green onion, thyme and ground basil. I served it with green beans and a nice red wine. The meat was so tender it broke apart on the fork. My wife who hates pot roast loved this because of the crust that is created when you saute the roast.

Spicy Peppered Beef Roast

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 4-8 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

2 to 2.5 lbs beef roast, boneless
1 teaspoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion, quartered
1 lbs carrots, baby
2 cubs broth, beef
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 tbs meat rub, unsalted

1. Lightly oil roast and apply meat rub covering all sides of roast.
   
2. In a large skillet over medium high heat, saute the roast until all sides are browned.
   
3. Place the onion, carrots, garlic in the bottom of slow cooker. Place the roast on top of the vegetables and pour the broth into the slow cooker.
4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours or on the high setting for 4 to 6 hours, stirring once.
5. Transfer roast to a serving platter and place the vegetables around it. Pour the roast au jus from the slow cooker into a gravy boat.

Gear-Stand Mixer

The Post did a great job of listing basic items for a kitchen. But, if you want to turbo charge your kitchen. Here is the most essential non-essential item I have. I use almost every day. Like Tivo you don't know you need it until you have one and try to do without. I have a Kitchen Aid because they seemed to be the brand everyone seemed to copy. But, I'm sure there are other makes just as good and possibly less expensive.


Stand Mixer:
I try to bake at least once a week this makes baking fun. I also have an attachment that grates. I've not bought grated cheese since and potato pancakes are back in the menu rotation.



Whether you go with the Kitchen Aid or another brand there are certain features you want to look for when buying a mixer.

1. Versatile: The mixer should come with a whipping, dough hook and flat mixer attachment.
2. Sturdy: The mixer should stay in place while mixing batter or dough while on high.
   
3. Reach: Beaters should be able to reach all areas of the mixing bowl. If it leaves the sides or bottom untouched it's not mixing.
4. Speed: You should have several at least six speed settings to accommodate everything you want to mix.
   

And once you get a stand mixer the first receipe you should try is whipped cream. Just put it atop some pound cake and some garnish with some thawed fruit. (Our favorite is blueberries.)

Whipped Cream

• 1/2 cup heavy cream, chilled
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
  

1. Chill the mixer bowl and whipping attachment.
   
2. Combine the cream, sugar, sour cream and vanilla in the mixers bowl.
   
3. Use mixer to whip to stiff (but not grainy) peaks.
4. Enjoy.

Yorkshire Pudding

Yorkshire Pudding

2 cup Flour, All Purpose 2 cup milk 4 medium eggs 1 tsp salt ½ cup broth beef and roast drippings 2 tbs butter, cut in two equal parts 1 Remove meat from roasting pan, increase oven temperature to 450°. Pour ½ cup of the pan drippings into a measuring cup. If necessary, add enough beef broth to drippings to equal ½ cup. Remove any excess drippings from pan. Pour the measured drippings back into the roasting pan. Put butter into pan 2 In a mixing bowl combine eggs and milk mix gently until combined. Add flour, salt and two tsp of pan drippings. Mix until smooth. 3 Place pan into oven until pan is hot and butter melts. Approx 5-7 minutes. Pour batter into roasting pan and return it to the 450° oven. Bake for 10 minutes. 4 After 10 minutes reduce heat to 350° and bake for 15 minutes or until puffy and golden. Cut into 12 squares. 5 Enjoy. Servings: 8 Nutrition Facts Serving size: 1 serving Percent daily values based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. Amount Per Serving Calories 205.40 Calories From Fat (29%) 60.00 % Daily Value Total Fat 6.76g 10% Saturated Fat 3.32g 17% Cholesterol 105.76mg 35% Sodium 510.79mg 21% Potassium 155.33mg 4% Carbohydrates 26.87g 9% Dietary Fiber 0.84g 3% Sugar 3.34g Sugar Alcohols 0.00g Net Carbohydrates 26.03g Protein 8.52g 17%