'Merica.

I'm working this week and my little helper has decided that he's not a napper anymore, so things are going to be kind of crazy this week. (Who am I kidding? It's ALWAYS crazy.) I crocked this yesterday and then submerged myself into work.

Sometimes, all you want is some meat and 'taters. The American section of my new cookbook had exactly what I was looking for: Swiss Steak.

"Swiss Steak" (6 quart pot)

~1 c flour
~2 t salt
~pepper
~2 lbs beef round, trimmed of fat
~2 T vegetable oil
~1 yellow onion, halved and sliced
~2 c water
~3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

Combine flour, salt, and several pinches of pepper in a resealable plastic bag.
Add meat to bag and shake to coat completely.
Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
Add meat and cook, turning, for 10 minutes, or until browned on both sides.
Transfer meat to crock pot.
Add onion and remaining flour to bag and shake to coat.
Set sauté pan to medium-high heat and add onion.
Sauté onion, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Gradually add water, stirring to scrape off browned bits on pan.
Cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, until sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Pour over meat in crock pot.
Sprinkle carrots on top.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

(I served this with smashed potatoes because that's "Amercian".)

About 3/4 of the recipes in the cookbook have associated pictures. This one didn't and I think I know why. It's impossible to make it look good. HOWEVER, I promise that it is good. The beef was nice and tender and flavorful and it tasted just like America. Or, you know, Swiss Steak. Mmm...