As Normal As I Can Get It

I'm trying to get things back to normal today, as normal as I can get it. Things won't ever be quite the same, but I think doing everyday things helps everday to be a little better. Thanks for waiting patiently for me.

Speaking of everyday things, let's get our menus for the week. I'm feelin the need for some comfort food this week. What do you say? Maybe I'll even bake some cookies today. Tonight we'll start with a roast. It comes from the cookbook Top Secret Restaurant Recipes. There's a series of the Top Secret cookbooks. They're packed with great recipes. I'm not sure if they still have them, but a friend said Kohl's was offering them for $5 each as part of their Kohl's program that they always have right at the front of the store. There's always great stuff there. If they've still got the books, I'd definitely recommend picking them all up (I think there's three). Now for the menus.

Monday--Shoney's Slow-Cooked Pot Roast, Carrots, Potatoes, Cheddar Garlic Biscuits
Tuesday--Grilled Chicken Salad, Nectarines
Wednesday--Baked Pork Loin, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls
Thursday--Beef Tips with Mushroom Gravy, Rice, Corn on the Cob
Friday--Homemade Pizza
Saturday--Out to Eat
Sunday--Leftovers

Shoney's Slow-Cooked Pot Roast
This one takes a little extra work, but it's well worth it.

2 Tbsp. butter
1 4 lb. roast
1 onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 clove garlic, minced
20 whole peppercorns
1.2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. parsley
2 c. beef stock
1 tsp. salt
4 carrots, sliced

Gravy:
2 c. beef broth
1/3 c. flour
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Melt butter and sear meat on all sides, 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Remove meat to a plate. Add onion, celery and spices to pot. Saute for 5 minutes until onion browns. Add beef stock. Put meat and carrots in baking dish. Pour stock over roast. Cover and cook 4 hours, basting occasionally. Remove roast and carrots, strain liquid. Cut meat in chunks. Pour stock over meat. Return to oven 40 minutes. Strain stock and combine with more to equal 3 c. Sprinkle flour in saucepan and stir in stock. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Serve with potatoes, biscuits, and applesauce.