Autumn Pot Roast

(As from Taste of Home Guilt Free Cooking)

• 1 boneless beef rump roast (about 3 pounds), tied

• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 teaspoons canola oil
• 3/4 c. fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/2 c. water
• 1/4 c. sugar (Side note: I always replace with splenda, but also I am sure you can use the healthier form of sweetner of Agave Nectar if you are cutting back on sugar, preparing for diabetic, or just don't like to use real sugar)
• 1 cup reduced sodium beef broth
• 1/3 cup prepared horseradish, drained
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 whole cloves
• 16 pearl onions
• 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs), peeled and cut into 1/4 inch cubes
• 16 baby carrots
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• YOU WILL ALSO NEED A CHEESECLOTH
  

1. Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper. In a Dutch Oven, brown meat in oil. Drain and remove from the heat. In a large saucepan, combine cranberries, water and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until cranberries, water and sugar. Cook and stir over medium hear until cranberries pop and liquid is slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat.
2. Add the broth and horseradish; pour over meat. Place cinnamon stick and cloves in a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tire with kitchen string to form a bag. Add to Dutch Oven. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours.
3. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring 6 cups of water to boil. Add pearl onions; and boil for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water; peel and set aside. Add sweet potatoes to dutch oven. Cover and cook 15 minutes longer. Add Carrots and Onions; cover and cook for 30-40 minutes more or until vegetables and meat are tender. Remove meat and vegetables; keep warm. Discard Spice Bag.
4. Cool pan juices for 10 minutes; transfer to a blender. Cover and process until smooth; return to pan. Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Gradually whisk into pan juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with meat and vegetables.

My Two Cents:

1. Definitely goes with its name, the cranberries and sweet potato combination are very autumn like and sweet.
2. Unique gravy which is sweeter than other gravies... mine did not get thick enough, might need more cornstarch?
3. TIP: do not multitask, sear the meat and leave the room to get something else. I set off my fire alarm today because I left the room and it started smoking up the kitchen! Bummer!
4. I did not have cheesecloth so I found some gauze (like medical gauze) and went "ghetto" or "macguyver" style into this... and it worked just fine haha.