French Dip Sandwiches

1 2.5-3 lb. beef roast (you can use a frozen roast if you want)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper
2 1-ounce packages dry onion soup mix
2 c. water
2 cans beef broth
6-8 large buns (or more…6 would be VERY generous servings!)
Swiss, provolone, or mozzarella cheese, shredded or sliced.

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and rub roast with salt and pepper.

When very hot, carefully place roast in pan and sear on all sides. You’re not cooking the meat, you’re just browning it quickly on all sides to add flavor and seal in the juices. 

Place in crockpot and sprinkle with onions soup mix. Pour water and beef broth over roast.

Cook 8-10 hours on low or cook 4-5 hours on high and another 3-4 hours on low. It’s hard to screw this part up; basically, the longer it cooks, the more tender it will be. But you know it’s done when you pop a fork in it and the meat just falls apart. When meat is ready, shred with a fork.

Place meat in crusty rolls. Top with cheese and broil open-faced in the oven or toaster oven for a few minutes, until bread is golden and cheese is melty. 

Ladle juices into small cups for dipping and enjoy!

From whence it came:  Here's another fab recipe from the Our Best Bites Cookbook!  I wasn't kidding when I told you it's a great cookbook!  I don't joke about things like that!

Why it's blogable:  When I tried this my family was totally wowed!  Everyone said it was their new favorite dinner and my teen son requested it for his birthday.  Both of my girls love this and my sonny-in-law and The Spy Who Loves Me are huge fans!  I just got back from visiting my married daughter and sonny-in-law and adorable grandpunk in Illinois last week and when I asked them what they wanted me to make while I was there, this was on the list.  This recipe could not be easier!  And we always have plenty for leftovers.  

Here's what I do:  Just to make it more yummy and less heart healthy, I butter the buns and sprinkle them with Parmesan cheese.  I broil them until the are just starting to brown, then take them out, put the meat and cheese on them and put them back under the broiler just until the cheese starts to melt.  You don't have to do this, but you'll be happy if you do!

Try this one soon!  And by soon I mean immediately!  Your family will thank you!

Hope you enjoy stirring it up!

Soup made the easy way!

It's that time of year, time to enjoy a really yummy bowl of soup.  I love soup!  The Spy Who Loves Me, not so much.  He's not a huge soup guy, although there are a few soups he likes.  He's not into brothy soups (is brothy a word?)  He's more into creamy soups.  Creamy soups are fab, but they can also be pretty fattening.  I've found a way to make creamy soups without all the fat that comes from making a roux with butter and adding half and half or heavy cream.  And I'm gonna share my secret with you, and you are very welcome!

Yep, Bear Creek Soups rock!  And they are so very easy to make.  I love making soup from scratch, but if you're pinched for time or not a make it from scratch kinda person, Bear Creek is your new best friend!


This one might just be my favorite, although I have a few favorites.  My family LOVES this one, especially my teen son.  All you have to do is add 8 cups of water.  Seriously.  That's it!  Now, if you wanna get a little bit crazy, you can add some fresh broccoli pieces and then sprinkle a little bit of cheddar cheese on top of each bowl.  But you can just make it like it is and it is really really good!



This one is my new favorite.  (I told you I had more than one favorite and I wasn't kidding.)  I tried this one for the first time recently and wow, my taste buds did summer-salts.  There is a restaurant in San Diego called Croutons that has chicken and wild rice soup that I love, and this is very similar to theirs.  I added some chicken that I had baked in the oven and boy oh boy was it good.  My family loved this one, too!  I bought some for my married daughter who with the help of her husband produced the most fabulous grandpunk any grandma ever did have, and they went crazy for it!  She said they couldn't stop eating it.  And why even try?  It's that good!



I adore this one, too!  I brown 1 pound of ground beef and add it to the soup and it's awesome!  Serve it with french bread and a salad and you've got an easy yet delicious meal.



Bear Creek has so many delicious flavors.  I haven't tried one that I didn't like.  And get this, they are just over three bucks at my BFF Super Walmart!  Now that's a deal!

Like I said, you can't beat soup from scratch, but these are truly the next best thing!  Give them a try, you won't be sorry!

Hope you enjoy stirring it up!