Sunday's Dinner: Roast Beef & Pan Gravy

"Nothing comforts like good old fashioned roast beef on a Sunday afternoon, and the leftovers make great sandwiches for Monday's lunch. Roasts are delicious and easier to prepare than you might think. WAIT UNTIL YOU SMELL THIS COOKING!"
 
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Ready In:
2hrs 20mins
Ingredients:
23
Serves:
8

ingredients

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directions

  • Leave the string on the meat; rinse the roast. Using paper towels, blot any excess moisture from the roast; set aside.
  • In a heavy plastic 'zip-lock' bag add the first nine (9) ingredients; blend well. Add the roast and generously coat. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours (preferably overnight).
  • Place the carrots, celery, onions, and bay leaves in a shallow roasting pan. Drizzle beef broth over vegetables; set aside.
  • Remove roast from plastic bag and set down on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, make a 2-inch deep slit into the roast and insert a garlic quarter into the meat. Repeat in various places on the roast until done.
  • Sprinkle the rosemary, thyme, onion powder, pepper and salt evenly over the roast, including the underside; pressing it. Let the roast sit for about 1/2 an hour.
  • Position oven rack on the lowest level; preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Place roast fat side up in the prepared roasting pan; roast for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and continue roasting for approximately 2 hours (meat's internal temperature should reach 130 degrees F).
  • Transfer the cooked roast to a plate and cover with foil paper; let stand for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the vegetables and cut the celery and carrots into 2-inch long pieces; leave the onions as they are. Keep warm.
  • Strain the pan juices through a sieve, discard the debris. Skim any fat from the liquid. The liquid should measure 2 cups - If necessary, reduce the liquid or add in some water and adjust the flavor by adding in a little more beef broth. The pan juices can be served as is, "Au jus", or they can be turned into gravy. To make the gravy, combine the flour and water, stir into the pan juices; scrape the drippings from the bottom of the roasting pan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook until thickened, adding additional water or beef broth as necessary.
  • When ready to carve, remove and discard the string and garlic cloves from the roast. Carve the roast on a slant, in 1/4-inch thick slices, starting from the smallest tip, going to the larger end. Lay the slices, in an overlapping manner, down the centre of the platter and then arrange the vegetables along the slices.

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<img src="http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/PACsticker-Adopted.jpg"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/IWasAdoptedfall08.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> It was at my Italian grandmother's apron strings, in the "Patterson, New Jersey region" of Italy, that I learned the secrets of creating real home style Italian dishes, and where my passion for food and my culture were nurtured. Always kept neat as a pin, grandma's kitchen was the centerpiece of our social settings and the focal point of our lives together as a family. Yes, it was the heart of her home. There, friends and family exchanged news, grandchildren stood on stools over the counter and grated chunks of Romano and Parmesan cheese to be served with dinner, and under the watchful eye of grandma the women (young and old) planned and prepared mouthwatering menus that reflected the marvelous flavors and textures of Italian cooking. On any given day tantalizing aromas would build and escape through her kitchen window, dance about the balcony and drift down onto the street; where men chatting on the corner of Putnum Street would stop in their tracks to inhale the mouth-watering fragrance. So many sumptuous meals were prepared in that modest, yet functional, kitchen. If I close my eyes and think of Grandma's cooking, I can vividly recall some of those fragrant food memories: tomato sauce with meatballs and sausages simmering on the stove top; onions, peppers and garlic roasting in a fragrant pool of olive oil, Neapolitan pizza with vine-ripened tomatoes (from grandpa's garden), fresh garlic, basil, Parmesan and anchovies bubbling in the oven; Italian bread smothered with creamy butter, minced garlic, and fresh parsley toasting under the broiler ... "Yummmmm - Heaven in your mouth!" Among the many recipes that I've collected over the years, are those that I hold especially near and dear. They are tattered, faded pieces of paper that provide a glimpse into my past -- Family recipes passed down from mother to daughter, granddaughter to great-granddaughter. Generations of my family's heritage are captured in grandma's recipes for flavorful soups (Minestrone, Pea, Ruccola); hearty meat, poultry and fish dishes (braciole, pot roast, chicken casseroles, seafood stews); fresh vegetable entrees and salads, and those baked goodies that bring a happy ending to every meal (Ricotta pies, Struffoli, Cenci, Pine Nut cookies). Whenever I am 'hungry' for "the good old days" or I want to soothe my soul after a tiring day, these are the comfort-recipes to which I turn. I once heard it said: "What distinguishes great cooks from good cooks is that great cooks love to cook. Every meal is an opportunity to express that love." A credo that I am certain grandma lived by -- I believe that she prepared her meals to fill her family and friends with love. I am proud of grandma's spirit of "abbondanza" (an abundant table). Indeed, no one ever left grandma's table hungry. I'd like to share with you some of the foods from my beloved grandmother's kitchen. Enjoy and make these Italian classic favorites in your own family's kitchen. Buon appetito!
 
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