Crock Pot Beef Roast, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Seven Grain Bread

Crock Pot Beef Roast with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
3-5 pounds Beef Roast (chuck is the most fall-aparty, but we have used others as well)
1 package Onion Soup Mix
1/2 cup water

Combine in Crockpot.  Cook on low 8 hours.  Remove meat and reserve.  (I usually go through it at this point to remove bones, large chunks of fat, etc.)

Pour the drippings through a strainer.  I have one of those gravy measuring cups that pours from the bottom, so you can pour off all the juice into another pot without pouring all the fat that settles on top.  Love it!

Pour the juices into a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, chop 3 large, peeled, potatoes into cubes.  Cover with salted water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until soft enough to mash.  When ready, pour off water into the saucepan with the meat juices.

Melt 1/2 cup butter (or 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup cream) and pour into potatoes.  Using blender, combine potatoes and butter.  Add milk to desired consistency.  Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Back to the gravy--combine about 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch with enough cold water to dissolve it.  Add gradually to the boiling meat juice/potato water combination, whisking to combine.  Add enough to thicken it to your liking.  Add salt and pepper to taste.


Seven Grain Bread

1 1/3 c warm water

1 T instant yeast

3 T dry milk powder

2 T vegetable oil

2 T honey

2 t salt

1 egg

1 c whole wheat flour

2 1/2  c bread flour

3/4 c 7grain cereal

Bread Machine:  Combine ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer in bread machine.  Select dough cycle.  When complete, shape dough into 2 round loaves.  Rise.  Bake at 375 25-30 minutes.   (Note:  I like to use hot water and let cereal soak in it first to soften.)

Bosch:  Double recipe.  Use HOT water.  Combine hot water with cereal in bosch for 10 minutes (to soften cereal).  Add milk powder, oil, honey, salt, eggs, and wheat flour.  Mix.  Add 2 c bread flour and yeast.  Mix continuously adding more flour as needed until dough pulls from edges of bowl and is not too sticky (total of about 5 cups bread flour.)  Knead 8 minutes.  Rise covered, in bowl.  Mix down and shape into round loaves (4 large).  Rise.  Bake at 375 25-30 minutes or until browned and crisp. 

Alternatively, bake about 20 minutes until lightly golden.  Cool.  Freeze for later use.  Thaw on countertop and bake at 375 an additional 15-20 minutes until browned and crisp.  Serve warm. 

Served with : green beans.