Posted by Johnliu: "-----Another way of cooking a roast, definitely fun, is buried in rock salt. No, it doesn't get salty. The salt absorbs heat and transfers it to the meat more effectively than air does, and reduces evaporation of the meat's juices. Just buy 2 lb rock salt, put the roast in a Dutch oven with salt under, over, and all around. ----" That is a very good way to make an extraordinary roast. Basically, the salt layer insulates the heat, allowing the "slow & low" method to take place easier. ---------------------------------------------------- Simple facts "Slow & Low" method addresses: 1. Water boils at 212 F. As long as there is water, you can never go above 212 F, regardless how high you set the temperature. (normal pressure) 2. Meat is a poor conductor of heat. 3. Meat shrinks under high heat and toughens (well-done). 4. Heat can only migrate from high to low and it is not reversible. 5. Meat gets tenderized (collagen denaturing) even at low temperature if cooked long enough. 6. Resting means cold meat. The picture shows a typical roast prepared the typical normal way. No matter how you slice it (PUN?), you generally end up in some degree the following (Which, BTW, to many people that's the way it should be for a perfect ribeye) Zone one - Brown layer (Maillard reaction), Many chefs advise not to char the meat. Browning gives the flavor. Charcoal is not tasty. Also, at higher temperatures, more carcinogenic compounds can be produced. Zone two - well done layer (meat is tough and dry). This is the 212 F to 165 F layer. Zone three - Medium. The 212 F layer of heat travels inward to warn up the colder layer to 145 F. Zone four - Medium rare. The layer is about 135 F. Zone five - Rare. The 212 F finally reaches this layer and warms it to 125 F after a long rest. Meanwhile the 212 F layer is get cold to room temperature from losing heat to the air and to heat the inside of the meat. Zone six - raw, uncooked meat. One problem with "Slow & Low". You produce very little juice, because the meat shrinks very little. The reason for "Low" is ridiculously simple. If the final desired temperature is 125 F, why not just cook at that temperature? The reasons for "slow", well I will let the author Nathan Myhrvold of the $500.00 cook book Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking explain to you why 24 hours is recommended for ribeye. If you just Google his name. And I will also let the famous chef Heston Blumenthal show you in this video how he too cooks low and slow: Here is a link that might be useful: Low & Slow

I've been using Christie Brinkley's BEAN SOUP recipe since I first made it in 1995 and I love it because it includes cabbage. Ms. Brinkley is a vegetarian and I change the recipe by including some homemade chicken broth, instead of using all water plus vegetable-flavored instant bouillon. The bay leaf in the recipe is the "zing" of flavor. You can make this recipe as thick or thin as you like by how much water you add to it. It's also an interesting recipe because you don't have to soak the beans overnight. -Grainlady -------------------------------------------------- CHRISTIE BRINKLEY'S VEGETARIAN WHITE BEAN SOUP 1 c. uncooked dry navy beans 2 T. olive oil 1 medium white onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 3 medium baking potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 2 large carrots, sliced 1 stalk celery, chopped 1-1/2 c. sliced cabbage 1 T. finely chopped fresh parsley 2 t. vegetable-flavor instant bouillon 1 bay leaf 6-8 cups water Soak the beans for 20-minutes in enough lukewarm water to cover. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until tender. Drain beans. Add beans, potatoes, carrots, celery, cabbage, parsley, bouillon, bay leaf and 6 cups water to Dutch oven; mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until beans are tender. If necessary, add additional water during cooking for desired consistency. If desired, salt to taste. Yield: 6 (1-1/2-cup) servings. Nutrition per 1-1/2-cup serving: Calories: 300 Total fat: 5 g. Cholesterol: 0 mg. Total carbohydrate: 53 g. Dietary fiber: 13 g. Protein: 11 g.

Here is how I do it and I am always extremely pleased with the results. I don't always go as far as the demi glace but I do make the brown sauce which is wonderful added to any dish wanting a rich beef flavour, soups, stroganoff, bourguionne, gravy, hunter style sauces, mushroom sauce...we love it. Beef Stock/Brown Sauce/Demi Glace For Stock 5 Or 6 Pounds Of Beef Bones, Veal Bones , Maybe More I buy short ribs when they are marked down. You want bones with some meat on them 2Celery Stalks , Chopped 1 Onion, Chopped 2 Carrots, Chopped For Brown Sauce 3 carrots chopped 4 celery ribs, chopped 1 Large Onion Or 2 Small, chopped 1cup Butter 1 Cup Flour 3 TBSP tomato paste 12 Cups hot beef stock herbs, Thyme, Bay Leaf, Parsley For Demi Glace 2 Tbl Maderia beef stock equal To The Brown Sauce For the Beef Broth Drizzel the bones and veggie with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the veggies and beef bones in the oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, turn and cook 30 minutes more or until lovely and caramelized. Place in a large stock pot and cover with 18 cups of cold water. Simmer for 4-6 hours. Strain, place in fridge. In the morning skim off fat. For the Brown Sauce ( Sauce Espagnole)- one of the four Mother Sauces Saute mirepoix ( chopped onions, carrots and celery) in butter until the onions are light golden brown. Add tomato paste and continue cooking gently. Make a brown roux over low heat in a heavy pan with 1 cup of butter and 1 cup of flour. When the roux is a hazelnut color, add two thirds of HOT beef broth. (Reserve one third for demi glace), and whisk together. Add the vegetables, as well as a bay leaf, a little thyme and some parsley stems. Simmer the mixture for 2 to 3 hours, skimming off the scum that rises to the surface. Strain it through a fine strainer, and press the mirepoix gently to extract their juices. Chill over night. Skim off fat. Then, for the demi-glace, add an equal amount of beef or veal stock, bring it to a boil, and simmer until the sauce is reduced by half, again skimming the surface as necessary. Off the heat, add 2 tablespoons Madeira. Freeze in ice cube trays. Summary of liquid amounts 18 cups water for broth 12 cups broth for Brown Sauce 6 cups broth , plus 6 cups of brown sauce for Demi Glace

I always process the ham bone first because there is enough flavor in that bone to make more than one pot. Just fill a big covered pot with water and simmer till the meat is falling off. Hours.... Then you have a whole pot of broth. Remove the bone/meat, cool ...even over night to remove the fat...I take the bone and remove all the meat...and take it apart where all I have left is the good meat..no fat...no gristle etc....Then I use it to make soup. Sometimes I will have enough for two or three pots of soup. I use one and freeze or can the others. Bean, potato is my favorite or peas...but use you imagination...even noodles and whatever suits your fancy.