Slow Cooker Roast Beef with Carrots & Potatoes

With the cooler weather upon us, I decided to bust-out my slow cooker and give it a work out!  Since I still had quite a few carrots and potatoes from my CSA share, as well as a lovely cross-rib roast of beef in my freezer (also from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze), I decided roast was on the menu!
The cooking time may seem excessively long, but trust me - even though the roast is technically cooked perfectly after 7 or 8 hours, leaving it to cook until the full 10 really makes it super tender and produces an amazing gravy!

SLOW COOKER ROAST BEEF WITH CARROTS & POTATOES

Ingredients:

2lb cross rib roast

2 to 3 tbsp all-purpose flour

Salt & pepper

1 tbsp EVOO

2 cups of good quality beef stock

2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 onion, sliced into 1/4" thick slivers

20 small carrots (I approximate 5 per person)

4 - 6 medium sized potatoes scrubbed and cut into 1" chunks with the skin on

• Wash and pat roast dry.  Combine salt and pepper (to taste) with flour in a bowl.  Heat the extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) over medium-high heat in a large skillet.  While you are waiting for the oil to get to temperature, rub the flour all over the roast.  Place the roast in the skillet and brown all sides.  Remove from heat.
• In a slow cooker, set on low heat, place the carrots on the bottom of the pot, the roast on top of the carrots and onions all around the meat.  Pour the beef stock and Worcestershire sauce over top. 
• Cover and set to cooking for 8 hours (resist the temptation to open the lid as this dramatically lowers the temperature...but the aroma is incredible!)  Check periodically to ensure there is enough gravy.  If it seems it is evaporating, add more beef stock in 1 cup increments.
• Immerse the potatoes in the stock around the roast.  Place the lid back on and cook for another 2 hours.
• After 10 hrs of cooking on low, switch off the slow cooker and remove the roast. Place on a cutting board to rest.  With a slotted spoon remove the vegetables and keep warm in a serving dish.  Pour the gravy into a small saucepan.  Place over medium-high heat and reduce by half so the gravy thickens a little.
• Carve the roast and serve on a bed of the roasted vegetables with the rich gravy drizzled over top!
• ENJOY!

*What we like to do with leftovers is make beef dip sandwiches for dinner the next evening, with sauteed onions!!!  YUMMY!

*For the Brussels sprouts I simply trimmed and sliced them in half, tossed them in olive oil and lemon pepper and placed them on a rimmed baking sheet.  Then they were baked in the oven for 20 mins at 375F,  and turned once halfway through to ensure even roasting.  This is simple and quick (and I have had several requests for my 'recipe' for these Brussels!  LOL!)