The Best Pot Roast, Ever

I think it's every woman's dream to serve the perfect pot roast.  Correct me if I'm wrong!  But really, there's no better way to impress the men, or children, in your life than to have a flavorful and fall apart roast in your cooking arsenal.  And this recipe, it's my atomic bomb ;)

Adapted from The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients:

• 3-4 pounds of chuck roast (no substitution)
• 1/3 c. flour
• 1.5 t. salt, divided
• 1/2 t. pepper
• olive oil
• 1-2 onions, cut into fourths
• 8 carrots, scrubbed (not peeled) and cut into fourths
• 1 celery stalk, cut into fourths
• 2 c. beef broth, divided
• 2 T. balsamic vinegar
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• 1 t. dried thyme
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 12 large mushrooms (opt)

Directions:

1. Heat stock pot over medium-high heat.  Cover bottom of pot with olive oil.
2. Combine flour, 1t. salt and pepper.  Coat all sides of roast.  Set aside.
3. Sear onions on both sides.  Remove and set aside.
4. Throw in carrots and celery and brown for about one minute.  Add mushrooms and brown for another minute or two.  Remove veggies and set aside.
5. Add more oil if needed.  Allow pot to get really hot, then sear roast on all sides.  Remove and set aside.
6. Combine 1 c. beef broth with balsamic vinegar.  Deglaze stock pot.
7. Remove from heat.  Return roast to stock pot, then add the vegetables.  Combine remaining ingredients and pour on top.  Cover and cook in 275 degree oven for 3-5 hours.  No peaking!
8. Remove celery and rosemary stalks.  Serve with mashed potatoes.

Just a note:  I've tried this same recipe in a crockpot and it just doesn't hold a candle to the stock pot version.  I mean, the flavor is amazing.  But, no matter how low/long I cook the meat, it's never as tender than when it's cooked in the oven...

Seeing as this is a Fall favorite, I think it's appropriate I mention one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite movies: Practical Magic.  "There are some things I know for certain: always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can."  Dried rosemary is just not the same as fresh rosemary...  So plant some rosemary, if anything just to make this pot roast!  And you'll fall in love with it every time.  *B