The following “Chew This!” column originally appeared in “The Courier-Times” and / or “The Shelbyville News”. Check their websites for further information and dates.

A Delicious and Comforting Dinner

Blaise Doubman

I love to order beef manhattans when I am out at local restaurants and often wonders can me a if I could try to make my own homemade version. Well I did and they are fabulous! You will not believe how flavorful these are, or how simple! Use store bought or homemade mashed potatoes and brown gravy. I have experimented with different types of gravy and brown gravy is not only traditional but the best tasting for the recipe. You can experiment, as always with my cooking recipes butremember when I say baking recipes, they should be followed exactly. Cooking and baking are similar, except, in baking, you must follow the recipe exactly.

This recipe is one of my favorites. You literally load up the slow cooker and let it work the magic. This meat is seriously some of the most tender and delicious meat I have ever fixed or had prepared. Between the dry Ranch dressing and the au jus gravy mix, this will be some of the most flavorful meat you will ever have. Be sure to follow the cooking times and instructions, just as they are to get the most tender and flavorful final product you can. Enjoy!

Beef Manhattans

4 pound boneless beef chuck roast
1 stick butter
1 package dry Ranch dressing mix
1 package au jus gravy mix
2 cups homemade or jarred brown gravy
Prepared mashed potatoes
Texas Toast

Start by lining your slow cooker with a slow cooker liner.

Place in the boneless beef chuck roast.

Place stick of butter on top of roast.

Sprinkle over package of dry Ranch dressing mix.

Sprinkle over package of au jus gravy mix.

Place on lid and cook 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

After cooking, remove lid and shred meat using 2 forks.

Warm prepared brown gravy and prepared mashed potatoes.

Assemble the beef manhattans by placing 2 slices of Texas Toast on a plate.

Top with shredded beef.

Top with mashed potatoes and finish with brown gravy.

Ask and Answer: So many of you wrote to me about my recipe for “Fried Green Tomatoes” and said it lead you back to your childhood. To everyone that reached out, I appreciate it, thank you.