Crock Pot Chuck Roast

     Can you believe we're already diving right into the Holiday Season!?  Every day, Whole Foods Market offers exceptional values, and during the holidays, who doesn't want a quality cut of meat at an exceptional price!?  With the weather turning a bit cooler and the nights lasting longer, now is the perfect time for braising and roasting, and the perfect opportunity to return to our old friend, the Crock Pot!  Check out these 5 tips for Slow Cooking Success:
Go budget friendly~ingredients like beans, whole grains, and spices available in Whole Foods Market bulk section, let you buy the exact amount you need and experiment with many products at once for a great price.
Trim the fat~too much fat left on meat  will give you an unpleasant texture, and having to skim lots of fat at the end of cooking is not enjoyable.
Think ahead~keep "kits" of chopped fresh veggies and meats in the freezer.  That way, you'll be ready to toss these ingredients in the Crock Pot in the morning in no time at all, with dinner ready by the time you come home!
Stay on trend~save money while staying trending!  Cheaper cuts of meat are all the rage at the top rated restaurants right now, and a crock-pot is the perfect tool to master these cuts at home.  Thighs, Beef Chuck, Brisket, Shoulders, Shin and Oxtail; when cooked nice and slow these cuts can be the most delicious bites.
Sear First~don't forget to sear your meat first.  Browned meat taste better, and the slow cooker does not get hot enough to get that done.  For optimal taste, sear first then slow cook to lock in the moisture.  (Except when it comes to chicken)

Ingredients for 6-8 servings~
2-3 Tablespoons Flour
Dash Salt
Dash Pepper
Dash Garlic
2 pounds boneless Beef Chuck Roast from Whole Foods, trimmed of excess fat
2-3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Chicken Base or 1 Chicken Bouillon Cube
1 cup Water
1 Simply Organic Brown Gravy Packet
2 large Potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces
16oz bag Baby Carrots
1 packet Liptons Onion Soup
1 Sweet Yellow Onion, sliced

     On a plate, combine Flour, Salt, Pepper, and Garlic.  Dredge Chuck Roast in Flour, coating all sides.  Heat Oil in skillet and brown Roast on both sides.  Meanwhile, line Crock Pot with liner (optional) and fill with diced Onions and Carrots.  Heat Chicken Base and cup of Water in microwave for one minute, stir to dissolve and then stir in Gravy Packet to blend thoroughly, set aside.  Top vegetables with seared Roast, pour Gravy over top.  Sprinkle with Liptons Onion Soup packet and lay sliced Onions on top.  Cover and cook at high for 4-5 hour or low 8-10 hours.  Enjoy  :)

Disclaimer: I am a Whole Foods Market Blogger Ambassador and this post was inspired by their monthly themes and gift cards received to purchase ingredients for posts of my choosing. I am not compensated by Whole Foods Market for my blog posts and am free to post whatever I see fit to my own blog.