The Conservative Cave

Interests => All Things Edible (and how to prepare them) => Topic started by: Mr Mannn on September 23, 2014, 07:34:50 PM

Title: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Mr Mannn on September 23, 2014, 07:34:50 PM
I want to get a roasting pan (dutch ovens are for advanced cooking-this is my first attempt), and the fixings and do a slow roast. This site is a good primer, but there are you tubes as well.

http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/beefporkothermeats/a/roastmeat.htm?utm_term=how%20to%20cook%20roast%20beef&utm_content=p1-main-2-title&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=msn&utm_campaign=adid-ac8c57ff-75c6-4bad-9a48-2cf86e73bc15-0-ab_msb_ocode-5995&ad=semD&an=msn_s&am=broad&q=how%20to%20cook%20roast%20beef&dqi=how%2Bto%2Bcook%2Ba%2Broast%2Bin%2Bthe%2Boven&o=5995&l=sem&qsrc=999&askid=ac8c57ff-75c6-4bad-9a48-2cf86e73bc15-0-ab_msb

1) what meat is hard to mess up? I'm thinking a cut of beef.
2) potatoes. I'm guessing basic baked in a microwave style. I want the side to be SIMPLE, with no elaborate hoops to jump through.
2a) what would you substitute for the potatoes? I don't want a cold salad, I want hot food. I do have a rice cooker, what rice dishes are there? (and please type slowly, newbie cook here)

edit to add, that is the biggest single URL I ever posted.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Chris_ on September 23, 2014, 07:46:05 PM
I would substitute parsnips, carrots, and onions for the potatoes.  They're delicious together.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Mr Mannn on September 23, 2014, 08:01:50 PM
I had to google parsnips. I have never eaten a parsnip before.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Dori on September 23, 2014, 08:07:17 PM
I want to get a roasting pan (dutch ovens are for advanced cooking-this is my first attempt), and the fixings and do a slow roast.

Dutch ovens aren't for advanced cooking.  If anything, a heavy dutch oven with a lid, would actually help the beginner with a better finished product.  Less chance of burning or drying out the food.

The dutch oven holds and distributes the heat better, and with a well fitting lid, it also holds in the moisture.  You can also use it to cook one pot meals on top of the stove. I use mine for pot roasts, making soups, stews, chili, spaghetti sauce, gumbo, stuffed peppers, etc.

Cooking beef roasts differs according to weight and quality of cut.

Here's a website that might give you an idea on some different cuts.

http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--338/beef-oven-roasts.asp

 

 
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Chris_ on September 23, 2014, 08:10:07 PM
I had to google parsnips. I have never eaten a parsnip before.
Cut your pieces the same size so they all cook evenly. 
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Mr Mannn on September 23, 2014, 08:49:04 PM
I found Lodge dutch ovens. I'll need to get one. A meat thermometer that stays in the meat in the oven. I need a timer. Knives, I need knives. I don't have a carving knife.
and something to put left overs in.

I did buy real silverware. I need real plates. Maybe a real glass for my tea, but I haven't found a 32 oz glass.

Hmmm this meal is getting expensive.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Dori on September 23, 2014, 10:06:19 PM
I found Lodge dutch ovens. I'll need to get one. A meat thermometer that stays in the meat in the oven. I need a timer. Knives, I need knives. I don't have a carving knife.
and something to put left overs in.

I did buy real silverware. I need real plates. Maybe a real glass for my tea, but I haven't found a 32 oz glass.

Hmmm this meal is getting expensive.

I bought a cast iron skillet in good condition at the thrift store and it was already broken in.  Didn't have to go through the whole seasoning thing.   Being your starting from scratch, you might check out their kitchen section, then replace with newer stuff as you go along.  Also watch for household sales at department stores. 

Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Chris_ on September 23, 2014, 10:10:15 PM
Seasoning takes an hour in a hot oven, a little bit of oil, and a paper towel.

Lodge usually pre-seasons their pans but a second seasoning won't hurt.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: JohnnyReb on September 24, 2014, 06:19:32 AM
Crock pot cooking for me. Throw a small roast in the crock pot, a few small potatoes, some carrots, onions, a can of mushroom soup, a little salt and pepper, let cook for a few hours...maybe put over rice.....eat. :-)
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Wineslob on September 24, 2014, 11:07:14 AM
+1 on getting an "Oven" at the thrift. I see them all the time, nice vintage pieces, for about $20-$40.

One "secret" is to use Lipton's Onion Soup Mix. You wont need to season the roast other than S&P on the roast it'self.

Here what I do:
 
Cook 1 or 2 slices of bacon in the Dutch Oven. When cooked eat the bacon.  :hyper:
1 pot roast (beef/2- 3 lbs), brown it in the Oven with the left over beacon renderings. Once browned
put in 1 -2 cans of mushroom soup. Add water till it's half way up the roast to almost covering it.

While it gets to a simmer, slice up 1 white onion, crush 2/3 cloves of garlic, and quarter up 5-6 potatoes, peeled. Add and bring back up to a simmer. Let simmer for 1/2 hr or so.  Add carrots and mushrooms (quartered) if you want. Let the whole thing simmer for 3-4 hours till the roast is fork tender.

EAT
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Dori on September 24, 2014, 11:41:08 AM
One "secret" is to use Lipton's Onion Soup Mix. You wont need to season the roast other than S&P on the roast it'self.

I use the Lipton's beefy onion or beefy mushroom in all kinds of dishes.  It adds a lot to them.  It's also great for making gravy with.

Your pot roast recipe sounds yummy... :drool:
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Wineslob on September 24, 2014, 03:20:52 PM
Throw a cup of cooking Sherry or Marsala in it............................................. :hyper:
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Chris_ on September 24, 2014, 10:46:07 PM
Crock pot cooking for me. Throw a small roast in the crock pot, a few small potatoes, some carrots, onions, a can of mushroom soup, a little salt and pepper, let cook for a few hours...maybe put over rice.....eat. :-)
That sounds pretty good.  :II:
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Mr Mannn on September 30, 2014, 04:13:49 PM
Well, I'm back. The great roast has been postponed until the upcoming weekend.

I'm in my new place and I've has a few problems getting my basic services up and running. Wah.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: thundley4 on September 30, 2014, 06:52:32 PM
Well, I'm back. The great roast has been postponed until the upcoming weekend.

I'm in my new place and I've has a few problems getting my basic services up and running. Wah.


What? Wait, you were gone? Where did you go? Vacation?


Congrats on the new dwelling.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Mr Mannn on September 30, 2014, 07:32:31 PM

What? Wait, you were gone? Where did you go? Vacation?


Congrats on the new dwelling.
No. Vacation would have been nice. This was no internet for a few days. Torture for an addict like me.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: thundley4 on September 30, 2014, 08:01:05 PM
No. Vacation would have been nice. This was no internet for a few days. Torture for an addict like me.

I know the feeling. I have the computer on while watching TV or even watching movies.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Dori on September 30, 2014, 08:45:09 PM
No. Vacation would have been nice. This was no internet for a few days. Torture for an addict like me.

How was the move?  Do you have everything you need there?
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: thundley4 on September 30, 2014, 09:01:35 PM
How was the move?  Do you have everything you need there?

Nope, he still needs a woman's touch to make it livable.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Mr Mannn on September 30, 2014, 09:59:18 PM
How was the move?  Do you have everything you need there?
The move was OK. I did it all myself. I'm getting all new furniture. I have a new bed, a new rocker recliner, a new computer desk (that I put together all by myself!), and a $350 office chair that made for a big guy like me.

I need a dresser, a TV stand, a table and chairs, etc. But as a guy I have all that I need at the moment.
Title: Re: Beginer's Roast. My first meal will be Sat or Sunday.
Post by: Mr Mannn on October 01, 2014, 06:37:57 PM
Last word about the roast. I was way too exhausted to do anything more than nuke something fast and go to bed.