Back on the wagon with pot roast in July!

Delicious roast for lunch on a blindingly white paper plate that I enjoyed at my desk at work.

I'm terrible I know....I fell off of the face of the earth for a year and a half only to make my triumphant return with...pot roast? In the middle of July?! One of the hottest months of the year in Texas?!

HELL YEAH I DID!

I'd love to say that I disappeared because something stupendous and amazeballoons happened like finally receiving my acceptance letter to Hogwarts but the truth is that I got busy and distracted and this blog fell through the cracks. Sad face and sad tummies I know... :(

However, before you think that I am truly terrible and regretful, when I say that I got busy and distracted, I had a great reason! I am going back to school in my evenings (even if it's not Hogwarts) to be a veterinarian and joined a fantastic philanthropic organization that I mainly participate in on my weekends so YEAH, very busy.

Enough about me, more about the pot roast.

My mom is an amazing but reluctant cook. It continues to surprise me how she produces absolutely delicious dishes but claims to be a only "okay in the kitchen." She's much, MUCH more than "okay" and her tweaks on a traditional recipe really elevated it to the next level of awesome.

As for the origins of this recipe, I have no idea where it came from; all I know is that it's fantastic and perfect for a cool, fall evening or you know, a hot day in July.

Lauren's Mom's Effing Perfect Pot Roast

2 1/2 lb. chuck roast

1 pkg. onion soup mix

1 can whole-cranberry sauce

2/3 cup red wine (I prefer a Zinfandel for roast)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 small onion, very coarsely chopped

1/2 small bag of baby carrots

1 small pkg. button mushrooms

1/2 bag of very small red potatoes

• On bottom of crock-pot, layer potatoes, then carrots, then mushrooms, then onions
• Place roast on top
• Sprinkle onion soup mix over everything
• Shmear mushroom soup and whole-cranberry sauce, pour in red wine
• Cook on low for ~6-9 hours depending on the size of your roast

* Serve with horseradish

P.S. If you have time, skip the red potatoes and whip up mashed potatoes to go with this dish. I'm a big fan of being lazy so I jam everything in there and go with it this way.

Happy Eating! :)