Tuscan Pot Roast

It's 11:00 AM and dinner---Tuscan Pot Roast--- is ready, sort of. Once it is all put together, it requires no work for the 8 hours it cooks. My b-i-l and nephew are coming at some point this evening for dinner and this will be ready any time after 6:00. All it needs is crusty French bread and a salad. I don't know where I found the recipe so that I can give credit where credit is due, but I'll share it anyway:

Hands on time: 30 minutes/total time: 4 ½ or 8 ½ hours, makes 6-8 servings
Egg noodles on the side will soak up the delicious gravy.

1/3 cup olive oil
1 2 ½ to 3 pound bottom round pot roast
2 large onions, quartered
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced (2 cups)
2 large carrots, thinly sliced (2 cups)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 cup dry red wine
1 ½-ounce package dried mushrooms (such as Portobello)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes, chopped, liquid reserved


Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the roast on all sides. Transfer the roast to a 4-to 6-quart slow cooker. To the fat remaining in the skillet, add the onions, celery, carrots, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to coat the vegetables; transfer to the cooker. Pour the wine into the skillet and scrape up any browned bits; add the contents of the skillet to the cooker, along with the mushrooms, salt, oregano, and tomatoes (plus 2 cups of their liquid). Cook 8 hours on low heat, or 4 hours on high heat.

PS: And a glass of wine. Don't forget a glass of wine!