Smoked Beef Roast

I've wanted a smoker for ages!  The Husband generously shared some of his stockpile of gift cards.  This lovely fellow moved in the other day...

After pre-seasoning, I was ready to rock and roll!!!  I had a small beef roast in the freezer that I really had no plans for whatsoever.  But enter Mr. Smokey (I name things... shrug) and I was stoked!!!!  

Smoked Beef Roast

2.5 pound beef roast (I used a top round roast) <= In the future, I'll use a brisket or tri-tip

1 tablespoon Canadian Steak seasoning (I had McCormick)

3 teaspoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Bring the beef to room temperature. Place in a baking pan.  Mix the soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce together.  Pour over the beef roast.  Sprinkle steak seasoning over the roast.

Soak 2 cups of wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes. Heat the smoker to 225 degrees.  Add water to the water pan and place the chips in the chip pan. I cooked my roast in a baking pan. Cook for 3 - 4 hours or until done.  I cooked mine to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.  Next time, I will cook it longer so it is more tender.

If you don't have a smoker, you can still make smoked beef on your grill.  Heat one side of the grill to 225 degrees. Put the soaked wood chips in foil packet and a bowl of water (metal or grill proof) on the unheated side of the grill.  Place the beef roast (in a cooking pan) on the heated side of the grill.  Cook for 3 - 4 hours.

I had plans to make cole slaw to top the beef but we didn't have any mayo.  Or good rolls.  Eyes rolling.  That's what happens when the whole family is home from school for 2 weeks.  We eat all the good stuff first.  The fam had no patience to wait for me to make anything else so we had some chips and good old potato bread!  Add a little barbecue sauce or hot sauce and BAM!  Your taste buds will give you a standing ovation!

Sausage, Greens, & Potato Soup

Winter Break is blissful.  I've been relaxing with my family and cooking yummy food!  I made Sausage, Potato, & Greens soup on New Year's Day.  It was a lazy day...  I love a lazy day.  I love a good soup!  It made for a perfect day in fuzzy, warm socks and pajama bottoms...

Sausage, Greens, & Potato Soup
1 package italian sausage (I usually use turkey but they were out)
1 bag greens (I bought a bag at Trader Joe's of mixed baby kale, baby spinach, and baby chard)
4 quarts chicken stock (I use Better than Bouillon)
4 medium potatoes, sliced
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup skim milk

Cook the sausage until almost done, about 8 minutes, in olive oil.  Add the onions, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes.  Stir and cook until onions are almost done, on medium heat.  Don't cook over high heat because the garlic can quickly become bitter.  Add the chicken stock.  Add the potatoes.  Raise heat to high.  Bring to a boil.  Lower to medium heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender.  Mix the milk and flour together until smooth.  Pour into the soup.  Stir until smooth.  Add the greens and cook for another 5 minutes.  I normally use just kale or spinach but decided to use mixed greens.

This soup comes together quickly.  You could easily cook this in the crock pot on low for  5 - 6 hours.  It's even better the next day when the flavors have time to blend.

The Husband is watching Breaking Bad without me.... We DVR'd the whole series over the weekend. That's what Winter Break is for, right???