Ingredients
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4 lbs. boneless beef chuck roast 2 medium onions, sliced 2 Tbsp. butter or shortening 1 cup apple juice 1 Tbsp. catsup 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/4 tsp. thyme leaves 1/4 tsp. prepared mustard 1/8 tsp. basil leaves 3 large sweet potatoes, pared and cut into pieces lemon Juice
Procedure
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Cook onions in 1 Tbsp. butter or shortening in Dutch oven until
tender-crisp; set aside. Brown roast in remaining butter or shortening in
Dutch oven over medium heat 15 to 20 minutes or until browned on both
sides. Pierce entire surface of meat with fork. Combine apple juice,
catsup, salt, pepper, thyme, mustard and basil; add to meat. Top meat with
reserved cooked onions; cover and cook slowly 2 1/2 hours or until almost
tender. Brush sweet potatoes with lemon juice for bright color; add to
meat. Continue cooking, covered, 30 to 40 minutes or until meat and
potatoes are tender.
Place meat and potatoes on warm platter. Sprinkle potatoes with chopped
parsley or garnish with apple rings and parsley, if desired. Serve gravy
over sliced meat. After apple juice mixture is added to browned meat, it
may be marinated in the refrigerator until 3 to 4 hours before serving
time; turn meat several times. If Dutch oven is cast iron, transfer to a
glass dish. GRAVY: Skim excess fat from cooking liquid; add water if
needed to make 1 1/2 cups. Mix 1/2 cup water and 2 Tbsp. unbleached flour;
stir gradually into cooking liquid. Heat to boiling; cook, stirring 3 to 5
minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Gravy may be served in
large apple that has been scooped out, if desired. Makes 6 servings.
