Hi,
Expecting a few days of lower temps and humidity, I bought a pot roast.
I have been reading a book from Farm Journal on efficient use of energy and appliances. It was written in the late 1970's in the shadow of the energy crisis. This book takes recipe, then suggests methods of cooking and trade-offs in product quality and energy use. The cooking appliances are:
- Stove top
- Oven
- Microwave
- Electric frying pan
- Slow cooker
- Pressure cooker
- Toaster oven
When I was considering cooking this pot roast, I wasn't really hoping to generate heat. In winter, running the oven cooks and provides warmth. I was interested in cooking, just not the residual heating. I used a slower cooker, which I have owned a long time and practically never used.
I was also tight on time, so did not bother with the niceties of browning the meat. I fitted the meat into the slower cooker, poured three cups of horseradish sauce, some water and a few sliced onions. I set it to cook and walked away hoping for the best.
A few hours later, I returned to add some potatoes and carrots. The sauce was no longer creamy, it was dark and oily. The sugars in the sauce had caramelized. The heat caused the sauce to separate.
When I came home later in the evening, I found a bowl where my family had ladled out the fat. While some of the fat came from the sauce, there was also beef fat present. The meat had an interesting texture and silkiness similar to confit.
The next day, I warmed the meat, partially drained off the fat and mounded it on a small bun. I applied a finishing touch of horseradish sauce. It was a sublime little sandwich.
I made a potato salad this evening using horseradish sauce instead of mayo to finish.
I still have just over half a gallon left.
Regards,