Baby, it's cold outside....

I like Winter.  It's not my most favorite season (Fall is my favorite! ), but I still like it.  I like feeding my bird friends outside and the squirrels.  I like making sure there's water for them. Pickles likes these critters, too....but I don't think her barking welcome and chasing them is going to make her popular.

It is very cold here today. I drove Emma to school this morning so she wouldn't have to wait for the bus. It was 8° this morning and I was thankful for the warm vehicle we were in. The schools in our area opened an hour early to make sure the schools were warm for the students when they showed up at their regular time. I think very highly of the school district we are on....and I love Emma's school. Some neighboring school districts were closed today due to the cold and issues with transportation,  but it was fun to see how excited Emma was that there would be school today.  She so loves her teachers!

With weather like we are in, comfort food is a must.  I have a long list of comfort food, of course,  but I think our favorite is pot roast. I have finally mastered it, too! The meat comes out so good and moist--you can pretty much shred it with a fork.

Here is how I make our pot roast:

---Pull roast out of your refrigerator,  unwrap and just let it rest on your counter.

---Put in a favorite CD so you can dance and sing as you get your pot roast things together.

---Cut up about 5/6 cups of potatoes,  carrots, onions, and celery. I try to stuff as many veggies as I can in there, but if I decide to add peas, I add them at the end. There is something yucky about mushy peas....

---Throw cut up veggies into the bottom of your crock pot.  I usually turn the crock pot on after I do this, just to get the party started. (I am such a goof ball....lol)

---Grab the pot roast and lightly pat flour all over it.  Get a skillet, turn the heat to high and then sear the pot roast. This doesn't take much time, and I think it is what holds the moisture in. Make sure you sear every side of your meat.

---Place meat into crock pot, nesting it on top of your veggies. Your crock pot will be very full, but as the pot roast cooks, it will shrink.

---Sometimes, I do my own spices to put on top of the meat, and sometimes I cheat and buy the little pot roast seasoning packs.  The seasoning packs are easier, I think....mix 2 packages of whatever seasoning packs you buy with two cups of water.  I usually do these one package at a time.....and let my daughter help.  This is a great recipe to get your child involved in.....and cooking together is so much fun!

---Crank up your crock pot to low and set the timer for 8 hrs.  Usually, around hour 5, I will turn the crock pot to high and just peek at it every now and again. Don't open the crockpot!!!  Leave it be!! When time is almost done, you can open the crock pot and test your veggies and meat. Actually, I call this part "testing" but I just really want to eat some of thus goodness!

---The two packs of seasoning will make a lot of gravy. I have tried only using one package of seasoning, but the pot roast wasn't as tender as I like it, so I have stayed with the two packages of seasoning.

Pot roast really is a great meal for cold weather.....

Stay warm.....