The Best Pot Roast

1. Stage

Brown the roast on all sides: Use a thick-bottomed covered pot (ovenproof if you intend to cook in oven), such as a Dutch oven , just large enough to hold roast and vegetables. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil on medium high heat (hot enough to sear the meat). Pat the roast dry with paper towels. Sprinkle and rub salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning all over the meat. Brown roast in pot, all over, several minutes on each side. Don't move the roast while a side is browning, or it won't brown well.

2. Stage

Brown the onions, add garlic, carrots: When roast is browned, remove from pan and set on a plate. Add the onions to the pan and cook for about 5 to 10 minutes, until they begin to brown. Add the garlic and carrots to sit on top of the onions.

3. Stage

Add the roast and simmer: Set the roast on top of the onions, garlic and carrots. Add 1/2 cup of red wine. Add the bay leaf and cover. Bring to simmer and then adjust the heat down to the lowest heat possible to maintain a bare simmer when covered (we cook our roast on the warm setting of our electric range). (If cooking in the oven, bring to a simmer first on the stovetop, then put in the oven, start the temp at 350°F for 15 minutes, then drop it to 250°F for the next hour, and then to 225°F after that.)

4. Stage

Cook several hours until fork tender and serve: Cook for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours, or longer, until meat is tender. After 3 1/2 hours, the meat will release a lot of liquid, which comes from slow cooking at a very low temperature. If your pot roast is too dry, make sure the pan you are using has a tight fitting lid and that you are cooking at the lowest possible heat to maintain the low simmer. Serve with green beans and potatoes.