Pumpkin Beer Braised Pot Roast

  • Vegetable oil
  • 3½-4 pound boneless chuck roast
  • 2 tbs butter
  • 1 large onion, cut in half then sliced thin
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 carrots, large pieces
  • 1 stalk of celery, large pieces
  • 2-3 pounds potatoes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 2 tbs flour
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 12oz cans or bottles of pumpkin flavored ale (beer)
  • chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Coat the bottom of a large stock pot with oil. Heat to a medium heat. Liberally coat all sides of the beef with salt and pepper. Add the meat to the hot oil and brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.
To the same pot, add the butter, vegetables, potatoes, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes or so or until the vegetables become soft. Sprinkle in the flour and incorporate. Cook for about a minute to cook out the flour flavor.
Add the beer and the bay leaves to the pan, scrapping up any brown bits from the bottom.
Place the beef back in the pan and ladle some of the broth over the meat. Cover and cook in a 325 degree oven for 3-4 hours or until the meat is very tender. Sprinkle fresh parsley over the pot roast before serving.
Alternatively, you can make this in a crock pot. Just follow the directions and place the cooked onion mixture and the browned beef in the crock pot. Pour the beer over and cover. Turned crock pot to low and cook for 6-8 hours. Drink whatever beer is left over while you wait!

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken – store bought rotisserie
  • 1 (8 ounce) bottle blue cheese salad dressing
  • 6 ounces hot pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Stir cream cheese, pulled chicken, blue cheese dressing, and hot pepper sauce together in a bowl until well-combined. Spread into a baking dish or cast iron skillet. Top with shredded cheddar cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbling, about 40 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, pita, just please not ranch dressing!!!