It's Bill, 5/3/26: Pot Roast Sunday

April showers bring May flowers. We slowly transition out of cool weather into warmer days and Spring walks. Daffodils, crocus, tulips, snow whites peek up from their winter slumber, with colorful thoughts of better weather ahead. Mother’s Day is right around the corner to celebrate and to show off new Spring wardrobes.

Sunday Plans And Sticker Shock

Patricia was thinking about Sunday dinner, figuring it was still cool enough here for pot roast. Knowing chuck roast is inexpensive, at Hannaford’s she found a chuck roast for $41! Sticker shock! Immediately, she called the butcher for another, “only $22!” Obviously, an investment in the future.

A Quiet Morning In Whiting

There was no yoga this Sunday, so we attended Quaker Meeting in Whiting. Only six of us. One of us read a short query concerning finding inner peace for ourselves. We sat on wood benches quietly in the Spring sunshine for an hour. At the end, we formed a circle, held hands, introduced ourselves, and spoke briefly about the inner peace query. All of us left smiling, feeling peace.

On the way back from meeting, we asked, “Are we using a pot roast recipe?” “No.” Well, okay.

Sign marking the quiet spot where we gathered for Sunday meeting.

Cooking Without A Recipe

After a light lunch, reading, and a short nap, we got out the red Le Creuset. Preheated the oven to 350. We sprinkled pepper, garlic salt, celery salt, herbs d’provence on both sides of the roast, searing it in olive oil heating in the Le Creuset at high medium, 5 minutes, both sides, adding apple cider vinegar, basic red wine, water. No measuring. We inserted cloves of garlic into the roast as well as browning pressed garlic in the liquid. While I’m searing, Patricia is prepping potatoes, turnips, carrots, onions into bite-size, rustic pieces. Julia is with us, we’re both drinking French Rosé. We covered the Le Creuset and put it in the oven for 2 hours while we took a 2+ mile walk, a fine, sunny Spring day.

After the walk, we added the root vegetables for an hour. Not enough, added 45 minutes and took some liquid out. Still at work, we checked our computers to stay current. Proclaiming the pot roast perfect, we opened a bottle of Mosel. A fine wine pairing, the Mosel balanced falling-apart, tender pot roast and the sweet wine, vinegar-braised vegetables in a rich broth.

During dinner, we rebooted our unwritten recipe. Less water, little or no potatoes, 2 onions, not one, and, most importantly, start everything in the Le Creuset at the same time, about 3 hours total. No, we did not write this down, this is it. We’ve got it, till next time, maybe. After dinner and cleaning up, we started Scrabble, a close game, not finished yet.

Evening Music And Looking Ahead

Later, we practiced karaoke to sing Benny Mardones’ “Into the Night,” 1980, up to 11 PM. We’re looking for a magic carpet to ride on. It was difficult finding the lyrics in English. A couple years ago we sang karaoke of Jelly Roll’s “Save Me.” On Saturday, May 2, the Legion is having a Kentucky Derby party. After the Derby, there will be karaoke with Johnny Phinney as the DJ. Between the Derby and our “Into the Night” karaoke, I think there’s a blog there.