scrubbedexpat091

I can never cook a whole chicken as well as the roaster ovens at the grocery store can, weird in a way that a cooked whole chicken which requires more effort on the part of the store is cheaper vs raw most of the time.

No Frills has goose on flyer this week, $5.48/lb though, I don't care for goose myself, but seems popular items at this No Frills.

BristolUK

Going back a few years the only beef we used to buy were the cheap ones around $4 lb. Inside Round, outside, cross rib etc.

They made decent enough steaks but as roasts they were very much hit and miss - mostly miss.

Now we're able to buy better stuff - Tenderloin, Top Sirloin, T-Bone and Premium Prime Rib - although we still only do so when it's around half price and that's often.

The cheaper cuts were okay in a slow cooker, but I still felt they were a bit stringy. I stopped buying them completely.

But we just found two Inside Rounds in the bottom of the deep freeze from late 2017. MIL turned one into one of her fantastic soups - far more meat than the shanks she would normally use and I cooked one with yesterday's Prime Rib Roast.

I just had a nice beef sandwich for lunch using the Inside Round.

The ban has been lifted and I will now happily buy one or two in future to be roasted for the provision of cold beef. And maybe beef stock too.

Shard

Made a beef stew in the slow cooker. Problem is the root veggies, don't really like mush veggies. Throw them out or blend them. This time I did the latter to get the nutrition and thicken the stew, but not really convinced that's the way to go. It becomes kind of soupy. Any recommendations?

BristolUK

I don't really use root veggies in the slow cooker. Definitely not spud as there's not much room for everything else. I have used carrots but I tend to cut them into fingers rather than slices. They hold their shape.

Rete

We love our root veggies in our stews, as well. Even though I use the slow cooker, I will put those veggies in about 1 hour before the stew is done so they aren't mushy. The first time I used them I put them in the stew in the beginning and they disintegrated.

Perhaps roast them and add them to the stew when you are taking your serving.

BristolUK

Good idea. Roasting makes such a difference. Of course, they could just be added to the plate or shallow dish.

A couple of weeks ago I made a coq au vin (my usual cheat with a Colman's packet) and had roast spuds (done in the actifry) on the plate. The best of both worlds.

Shard

Yes, I like them roasted. But I thought the idea was that the veggies flavour the stew? How much beef do you put in if it's just beef?

scrubbedexpat091

When I use the crock pot, I cut potatoes and carrots in bigger chunks, they soften but don't turn to mush.

I wont eat cooked carrots, but my wife will otherwise I wouldn't even put carrots in...ha ha

Rete

Hubby, the Canuck, doesn't eat beef so I make a great pork stew in the same manner as beef stew. I use the boneless ribs for the stew meat. Why not add part of the root veggies to the stew at the beginning for flavor and the rest of them roasted. I do add potatoes to mine, as well as lots of onions, butternut squash, string beans, carrots (cut them into large pieces), and sometimes acorn squash.

As for the amount of meat, I use five to six of the boneless ribs cut up. Makes for at least two nice meals and a single serving for the freezer.

Rete

Oh BTW, College Inn makes a great new product called Started Sauce/Gravy. You never have to make your own for your stew. Just add a box of the liquid Starter to the crock pot and you are set to go.

BristolUK

I think there's so much flavour from onions and leeks that carrots and spuds wouldn't be noticeable - other than starch.

shelley748

where do you get that from?

I always use oxtail soup mix because I live with Mr Picky who wont eat onions etc- his staple is meat (of any kind) potatoes and carrots- that's it!

dave_j

What!!! Won't eat onions... I blame the parents.

scrubbedexpat099

I see Justin is in deep trouble with his Doughnut choice.

BristolUK

If you don't mind a 'cheat' as a helper - I use cheats very often - these are okay.