Roast advice.....for the Holidays!

HI S.,
I don't know if you have ever used this site, but allrecipes.com is awesome. I use that, and no longer use cook books. The recipes are rated and you can read reviews, with tips...so I only make the highest rated recipes so I don't waste my time. There are many great recipes. You can suscribe for free and they will send you recipes daily, too. A roast I have made is in a crock pot and you use cream of mushroom soup, and a packet of Lipton Onion soup, and some beef broth and let it go all day. It is awesome, it makes its own gravy for potatoes. Just an idea. But there are many more on the site. It even groups things for holidays, so you can come up with a complete meal! Good luck! K., mom of a 5 year old and 2 year old

I have never had it that way, but I have made many roasts in my day. I recently made one that my husband said was the best ever!
It was a boneless cross rib roast (I got it on sale really cheap). I brushed it with balsamic vinegar, it made it so juicy and delicious..not at all strong like I feared. After brushing it with the balsamic, I made a crust with 2 T garlic, 1 T salt, 1 t pepper, 1 t rosemary, and 1 T olive oil and covered the top with it. Then I cooked it uncovered at 450 degrees for 20 min. reduced the heat to 350, and cooked for another 40 - 60 min until the internal temp reached 125.
Absolutely the best I have ever had, and I will make it again every time I have roast.

I do have another bit of advice, I would buy a digital thermometer, the kind that you put in the meat and keep on the counter. They usually have an alarm you can set to go off when it reaches the temp you select.
Also, if you have limited space in your oven for side dishes, you may want to consider buying an electric roasting pan. It cooks at a higher temperature than a crock pot so you will get a nice crust. My experience with roasts in crock pots is that they are dry, so I am always cautious of that.

This is what I did for my first Christmas at home, and it was a HUGE hit!
I wish you the best of luck, and remember to plan early and it will be great!

I'm making this one today. We LOVE it!

3-4 lb. Beef Roast any type
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
1 pkg. Italian Season Dressing Mix
1 pkg. Brown Gravy Mix
1-2 cups water (depending on how much gravy you want- you can always add more as it cooks)

Spray crockpot with Pam. Add water to crockpot. Mix the dried mixes together in a bowl with a fork. Place roast in crockpot. Sprinkle mixes all over the roast. Cover.
Cook on Low for 7-9 hours.
I also add carrots and onions. You can serve over mashed potatoes or just throw some cut up potatoes in.
Enjoy!

Why not try it first and see what it turns out like? just for your immediate family, before you plan on it for guests

K. Z.

I fixed a steak one time with coffee used as a rub. It was very good...doesn't taste like coffee really...just a rich flavor. Plus, it helps to tenderize it I believe. I would think in the crockpot, you probably can't go wrong. If you do try it, let us know how it turns out! Sounds yummy!

Try allrecipes.com. There is a recipe for "roast beef with coffee". There are 113 reviews and it averages 4 out of 5 stars. I didn't read the reviews, but I'm on this site a lot and many times the reviews will give tips/suggestions on what to change (if anything) about the recipe.
Good luck with your meal!!!

I do roasts in the crockpot for my family all the time. I experiment with new recipes all the time, however, I'd never make something for the first time for a big holiday dinner! Make it for your family - you have plenty of time. If you're worried about leftovers, simply cut the leftover roast into big chunks and freeze in quart size ziplocks. You'll get several dinners out of them... and slightly less cooking on busy evenings just before the holidays!

I would try the recipe out first before you go planning a big family event out of it. My step Mother decided to add raisens to our normal turkey dressing one year and it was awful and now is teased about it every time she makes the dressing.
Our Family always has Turkey and Ham for big Holiday meals, but there are at least 12 adults and 4 under 6 years old. That is a bunch to feed and we usually have a few friends in that have no family other than us to share a holiday meal with.
Putting coffee wth your meat while it cooks sounds bad to me. Good luck.