Italian Pot Roast & Mushroom Gravy

This morning I looked around my kitchen in trying to figure out what I should cook for dinner this evening.  A nice three pound pot roast was hiding behind some packages of frozen burger and chicken.  Cooking a pot roast is an easy task for me, but today I pushed my standard recipe to the back of my box.  I started thinking, “What would make this meat taste special today?”  I decided to have my roast take a trip to Italy.  Knowing that I had a busy day ahead of me, I hauled out my crock pot and started preparing the meat.  When we opened the house door after school, we were greeted with a delectable Italian scented roast.  It was the perfect way to kick-off the weekend.

            Italian Pot Roast

            Place a three pound pot roast in your crock pot. (Mine is a rectangle so I am able to lay it flat.)  Add water so that the water line stops half way up the side of the meat.  Chop and onion and take three garlic cloves whole and add them to the pot.  Next, liberally apply twelve shakes of Worcestershire sauce over the top.  Now shake over the complete top of the meat: salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and Basil.  (Today my roast was frozen. I knew that I would not be home for hours and let the crock pot do its magic.  Do not worry about thawing if you’re using a slow cooker.)  Cook roast all day on medium.  You will know it is done, if the meat starts to fall apart with a fork.  No need to use a knife with this meal. Serve with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy.

            Mushroom Gravy

            Clean and slice on package of fresh mushrooms.  Place them into a pan with one tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil.  Chop one onion and add to the mushrooms. Cook until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms are a bit brown.  Add one quarter cup of flour and mix into the mushroom mixture, let cook for a couple of minutes stirring so that the flour does not burn.  Add three cups of pot roast liquid from crock pot.  Add two cups of water and one half cup half and half or cream, salt and pepper to taste.  Now it is time for dinner, enjoy!