Nonnie's Pot Roast - A recipe from Bernadine Wilklow

Nonnie was my dad's mother. She was a frugal woman having lived through the Great Depression. My dad recounts the years when sugar was rationed. Nonnie, Grampy, my grandfather, Uncle George and my dad were each given 1/2 cup of sugar each week. They could eat as much as they wanted BUT if there was enough left over and saved at the end of the week, Nonnie would make them a cake with the sugar and everyone would enjoy the cake. My dad loved vanilla cakes and fondly remembered saving his sugar so his mother would make that cake at the end of the week.

Nonnie's Pot Roast:
1-2 lbs of roast (Nonnie used chuck, I prefer leaner cut like round)
Seasoning - I use a steak mix from Sam's but salt and pepper works
Olive oil
2 sliced onions
2 cups baby carrots (Nonnie would use large carrots and cut them into chunks)
4-6 potatoes peeled and quartered
4 bay leaves
6 cups of water
Beef bouillon - 4 cubes or 2 tbsp. base (found at any supermarket)

In a large dutch oven (or heavy pot) saute the roast in olive oil until seared on all sides. Before searing, I use the steak seasoning as it has all the flavors we like. Add the onions and saute with the roast. Then add the water and beef bouillon cook until tender about 2 hours on med-high heat. Add the carrots and potatoes and cook another hour on low heat. Remove the roast, carrots and potatoes in a dish and proceed with making the gravy. Let the roast set for about 15 minutes, slice roast and arrange on dish with vegetables.

Gravy: 
Bring broth in dutch oven to a boil. In closable plastic container add 1/4 - 1/3 cup flour to 1 cup water and shake until not lumpy. When broth comes to a boil, slowly add the flour and water mixture and stir while the broth turns into a gravy. Allow to boil slowly for about 10 minutes on med-low temperature constantly stirring. Strain into a servicing dish. Reheat in microwave the meat and vegetables if cold and serve with the hot gravy.

PS: I actually use a pressure cooker to make this dish because is cooks much quicker - total cooking time is about 1 hour. I also omit the potatoes since I much prefer mashed potatoes with the delicious gravy. This has always been a favorite of my mother and now is a favorite for Delaney Wilklow, my niece! I hope this soon becomes a favorite in your family.