This recipe does double-duty.  Its cooked in the crockpot (or the oven) and is a great meal for the freezer.   This is a freezer staple for our family.  I usually make a couple roasts and then divide into 1 dinner-sized portion and the rest are individual lunch-sized portions.  Its a very flexible recipe.  I use whatever roast is on sale, whatever sandwich roll is on sale, whatever cheese is on sale, etc.

Italian Beef Sandwiches

• 3 cups water or beef broth
• 1 teaspoon salt (optional if you’re using canned beef broth)
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon onion salt
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 (.7 ounce) packages dry Italian-style salad dressing mix (regular or zesty)
• 1 (3-4 pound) rump roast or chuck roast (chuck shreds more easily)

Combine broth/water and all seasonings.  Add roast to your slow cooker and pour seasoning liquid over roast.  Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours or high 4-5 hours.  Remove roast & shred.  Return to slow cooker for at least 30 minutes (I prefer 60-90 minutes).

To serve:  Spoon some liquid over buns (optional).  Add meat to your favorite type of sandwich rolls.  If desired, top with provolone or pepper jack cheese.  Other optional toppings includepepperoncinis , mild pepper rings, sauteed onions or mushrooms, red onion and roasted red peppers.  Toast rolls before adding meat or after adding cheese, if desired.
Freezer Meal: Divide into meal-sized portions and add to a freezer ziptop bag (meat & broth).   If you have time, thaw before reheating.  Reheat over low to medium heat on the stove.  If needed, add a little water or broth.

I love to cook. And I love to find & try new recipes. Lately, though, I’ve often wished I had some tried-n-true recipes for certain foods. Recipes that we think are THE best, so I can stop trying other ones. When my kids grow up, I want these to be the recipes that immediately make them think of mom. I’ve decided to put together a list of what foods I want to find the best recipes and get busy on it. I’ll probably add to the list but here is the starter. As I progress through the challenge, I’ll post the recipes we try and, on this page, link the best.

If anyone wants to join me in questing for the best for their family, post and I’ll add your link to this page.  I’d love to have company.

Baked ham (sweet, not smoky)
Beef tacos (of the shredded variety, not ground beef)
Blueberry muffins
Cake, chocolate
Cake, pound
Cake, yellow/butter
Chocolate chip cookies (of the chewy variety)
Cinnamon rolls
Garlic bread
General Tso’s Chicken
Ice cream, vanilla
Ice cream, chocolate
Lemon poppy seed bread/muffins
Parmesan chicken
Pizza crust (chewy, hand-tossed)
Pizza crust (deep-dish for my hubby)
Pizza sauce (lots of flavor, fresh tasting)
Pulled pork barbecue
Sandwich bread (not heavy, white)
Sandwich bread (whole wheat)
Sauteed apples (like Cracker Barrel)
Spaghetti sauce
Spaghetti sauce w/meat
Spanish rice

Monday–baked rigatoni,Italian pull-apart bread

Tuesday–chili in the crockpot

Wednesday–some type of chicken (not yet decided)

Thursday–bacon burgers, potato wedges, raw veggies & fruit (use up whatever is in the drawer)

Friday–chicken enchiladas with red sauce, spoobread, rice
Saturday–pulled pork on the grill, stuffed smashed potatoes, salad or corn

Sunday–pizza (family night)

I’ve been busy trying new recipes lately. Thought I’d post the ones we’ve enjoyed. Here are a couple and I’ll post more this week. I’ll link the title to the original recipe, if anyone wants to see it and/or the reviews.  Elizabeth described the chicken as “super fast good” and the bread as “super high good good”, so take those reviews for what they are.

Parmesan Chicken
4 chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 egg
1 tbl butter or margarine
1 tbl oil

Flatten chicken to 1/4″ thickness. Combine bread crumbs, cheese & basil. In another bowl, beat the egg. Dip the chicken in the egg and then into the bread crumb mixture. In a large skillet, heat melt the butter & oil over medium heat. Add chicken and cook 3-5 minutes per side.

Notes: I needed extra bread crumbs & cheese to coat my chicken. I didn’t have straight basil so I used my homemade Italian seasoning mixture (garlic, oregano, basil & red pepper flakes). I had to turn my heat up to medium-high in order to get a not-too-greasy chicken.

Toasted Garlic Bread
1 loaf Italian bread
5 T butter, softened
1 T extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 t dried oregano
pinch of salt

Combine butter, oil, garlic, oregano & salt. Preheat broiler. Cut the loaf in half lengthwise. Spread the butter mixture on both halves. Broil 5-8 minutes or until slightly browned.

Notes: The original recipe called for 1 tsp oregano & 1 cup of cheese (added at end and then put back under the broiler). We cut the oregano in half and it was just the right amount for us. I made the butter mixture up in the morning and let the flavors meld all day. Instead of using the full loaf, you can slice it 1-2″ thick.

Now that I’ve got the “baby bump” (two weeks earlier than with E!), I’m looking for new maternity clothes.  I was much further along come summer with E, so my shorts all have the purple panel on them and my shirts are for further along too…I don’t have the belly yet to fill them up so I end up just looking fat & frumpy.  I’m going out shopping Wednesday, I think.  I would like a couple pair of capris plus a few shirts.  I ordered a few Belly Huggers, so I’ll be able to wear some of my current shirts a bit longer with the layered look (and they’ll be great for nursing, replacing some of the tanks I used with E).  I just don’t like shopping, though.  I don’t feel like I know what looks good on me.  I’d love to have a personal shopper!   Store selection is somewhat limited too.  We have Kohl’s (cute but tiny section), Target (but their maternity section is NOT good!), Motherhood Maternity (I don’t like some of their business practices, so I try to avoid it) plus the standard department stores.  I haven’t tried any of those yet.  I’m not a fan of ordering clothes online since I can’t try them on first but I think I may have to this pregnancy.

Jim graduates IOBC (Infantry Officer’s Basic Course) Thursday.  Last one & he can officially serve as an officer.  Woohoo!  Jim’s parents are coming in tomorrow night, my dad Wednesday night & SIL Thursday.  (Only my dad is staying with us.)  Three schools down, two more (hopefully) to go!  He’s going to Airborne right after graduation and Ranger at the end of the month.  I am NOT looking forward to that one.  If he completes it his first time through, that is 63 long day.  And missing our 20-week ultrasound.   Good preparation for the next deployment, I suppose.

So another meal question….rib prices are up, so I decided to scrap that idea.  I think we’re going to do a burger bar instead.  Besides lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mustard, red onion, bacon & sauteed Vidalia onions, anything else?  And what should I do as a side?  I thought about some potato wedges and corn on the cob.  Any better ideas?  I’m not a fan of mayo-based potato salads but I’d be open to other ones, I just don’t have any recipes.   And sundae bar ideas.   We’re doing that Thursday after the graduation reception.  I’m planning on making a vanilla custard, chocolate and then something else.  Maybe a butter pecan as both of our dads like pecans.  But what to put on top?  I have nuts, chocolate syrup & caramel syrup.  What else?