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I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend! We decided to hit the road and spend the extra few days with the Georgia Jordans and just got back in last night. The kids really enjoyed playing with cousins and grandparents and the hubs and I enjoyed sitting around visiting. Okay, so I might have gotten a wee little bit of shopping in, too, but the North Georgia Premium Outlets just say my name so sweetly that whenever I am near it is hard to refuse.
We left out on Friday around lunch and decided to take backroads in order to avoid the perpetual traffic jam just outside of Chattanooga. Note: We love everything about Chattanooga. It is one of THE most family friendly places on earth and we dearly love to visit there every chance we get. But seriously, there is almost always a traffic jam just outside of it. So you can either hang on to your bladders and hope you get through in an hour or so, or you can go through Mentone :).
We had gone through Mentone a few months ago and discovered the cutest little place called the Wildflower Cafe. We actually passed it the first go around but turned around to go back and have lunch there. It was so good that we stopped again on this trip. If you are ever in Mentone and have any room at all for some good food in your stomach, go to the Wildflower. Order anything at all on the menu and you’ll be happy, but you simply must try the tomato pie. It is to die for. While we were sitting there I told hubs that if I ever had a restaurant, I’d want it to be just like this one, but with a little less descriptive naming on the menu. Don’t get me wrong, the menu is divine and very well written. I think I’d just got a bit more common sense and down to earth because that is more my style. If I had a restaurant (which I definitely do not have time for) my menu would read something like this:
- Filet Mignon- The way we cook this steak makes the cow’s death a more noble cause than anyone could have ever thought possible.
- Rolls – Just like grandma made and served hot enough that the butter will be half melted just by sitting on the same tray on the way to the table.
- Tea – Iced. Sweet. Good. Required with every meal.
As we headed out of Mentone on the little winding mountain road, our road trip bliss was interrupted with a very sudden WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP. You got it folks, we have us a flat.
This is how our tire looked. When we get a flat, we don’t halfway do it! 😉
Thank goodness there was no one behind us as we pulled over to the side of the road. It was far too busy a road to be able to change the tire on but we were able to move into a nearby driveway and safely get started. I went up to the house in hopes of apologizing and explaining what had happened, and also to assure the owner that we’d be gone as soon as we possibly could. As I knocked I heard some noise inside but no one answered so I went back to the car to help change it. We both immediately got on our phones to look up where the jack was, how to get the tire down from under the car, etc. By the time he had the tire released I knew exactly where to safely insert the jack to raise up the car and we were off to the races. Isn’t internet a wonderful thing? (Our car didn’t come with an owner’s manual, but we have google)
About that time two teenage boys appeared from inside the house and stood staring at us from a distance so I smiled and approached them to explain what had happened. They leaned on their father’s tow truck (which I had previously viewed as a sign Ricky might have more help than me with the tire) and said “Yeah, thats what our dad said probably happened.” I apologized for us being in their driveway and they said “Well, good luck with the tire” and turned to disappear back into the house.
Looks like Ricky had me as his trusty assistant after all. That lucky dog…
It took us about 45 minutes to get the tire off and the spare on before we were on our way again but I couldn’t help but be grateful that Ricky’s head was just where mine was when I said “There is no telling what us having that flat tire just protected us from” he replied “Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.”
Sure, it could have just been a flat tire. But it could have been the one thing keeping us off the road when an eighteen wheeler veered a little too far to the left..or when a deer ran across our path, or when someone who was dozing off turned onto the road without checking traffic beforehand.
True, it could have just been a flat tire but it could have just as easily been a small event orchestrated to protect us from a devastating event. Nothing wrong with being grateful..just in case 🙂
Oh, wanna see what it was we ran over? Here ya go…
Whooooweeee Dawgie! See what I mean about not halfway doing it?
Most folks would be content to run over a nail or screw or something. We had this entire thing embedded in the tire except for the last inch or so. Call us overachievers 🙂
Now let’s make some Italian Beef Sandwiches. These are SUPER easy and I took them to our tailgate last week. They stayed nice and warm in the slow cooker until everyone was ready to eat and we really enjoyed them. But they’d also make a great weeknight supper or game day meal at the house and leftovers heat up like a dream
You hungry yet? Lets get on in that kitchen and cook us up some grub!
I get bored taking ingredient photos in the same places all the time so today I took my ingredients into the living room. This is what my mantle looks like now. Okay, so I don’t really have a *real* fireplace but I’ve always wanted one so a few years back I saved up and we got an electric fireplace. It still puts out heat and has a beautiful fire look to it, but it’s not real. I’m cool with that though, I have a good imagination and someplace to hang the kid’s stockings on Christmas Eve :).
I had it all decorated at one time and it was actually pretty, too, but time and kids tend to redecorate your house and that isn’t always a bad thing. Ours is much more colorful now :). So here is my beef roast and can of beef gravy posing on my makeshift mantle with some painted picture frames, crayons, and a hello kitty hair barrette.
Woo, I’m feeling chatty today! Okay, I’ll try to actually get through this post now.
You’ll need: Beef Roast, can of beef gravy….AND
1-2 bottles of Zesty Italian Dressing.
You’re also going to need 1-2 Bell Peppers and 1 Onion.
Pretend you see those here. You’ll see them in a few pictures but they were kinda camera shy so I couldn’t really get a photo of them until I had cut them up and removed their will 🙂
I say “1-2” bottles of dressing and “1-2 bell peppers” because it really depends on how much you like them and how much flavor you want from them. Me? I could drink a bottle of Italian dressing and eat every bell pepper you put in front of me. I only used one bottle in this but I sometimes add another half bottle or so just to up the zingy flavor.
Place your beef roast in a slow cooker (my favorite kitchen appliance!) and cover with can of beef gravy.
Put lid on and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
* Note that you are not using your Italian Dressing now.
After it has cooked all day, remove the roast, drain off and discard all juices, shred the meat and return to the slow cooker.
Add in entire bottle of Zesty Italian Dressing and give it a good stir.
Chop up your onion and bell pepper and place in a skillet over medium high heat to brown slightly, until your onions are caramelized and your bell pepper is tender.
I don’t add anything to this but if your skillets tend to stick, you might want to add a tablespoon or so of cooking oil before adding in your veggies.
Now like I said, cook until that gets tender or do like me
and cook it until you get tired of fooling with them and want to get on with things.
Add them in with your beef and give it a good stir.
Place slow cooker on warm setting until ready to serve.
Serve on buns, topped with mozzarella cheese.
Special thanks to my friend, Tammy, for modeling the sandwich for me!
Italian Beef Sandwiches Ingredients- Beef Roast (Pot roast, chuck roast, sirloin roast, top roast, etc. Whatever kind you have, just not eye of round)
- 1 can beef gravy
- 1 bottle Zesty Italian Dressing
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 1-2 bell peppers, chopped
Instructions- Place roast in slow cooker and pour can of beef gravy over. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
- Remove roast from slow cooker and discard juices. Shred meat and return to slow cooker. Pour bottle of dressing over meat and stir.
- In large skillet, place onion and bell pepper. Sauté over medium high heat until tender. Stir into beef mixture.
- Cover and place on warm until ready to serve. Serve on buns and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Beef Roast (Pot roast, chuck roast, sirloin roast, top roast, etc. Whatever kind you have, just not eye of round)
- 1 can beef gravy
- 1 bottle Zesty Italian Dressing
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 1-2 bell peppers, chopped
- Place roast in slow cooker and pour can of beef gravy over. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
- Remove roast from slow cooker and discard juices. Shred meat and return to slow cooker. Pour bottle of dressing over meat and stir.
- In large skillet, place onion and bell pepper. Sauté over medium high heat until tender. Stir into beef mixture.
- Cover and place on warm until ready to serve. Serve on buns and top with mozzarella cheese.
I like to start each day with a positive or uplifting message on our Facebook page each morning – and I sure do hope you’ll join us over there if you haven’t already! Today’s message bears repeating so I’m adding it here, too!
”When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light. Give thanks for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. And if perchance you see no reason for giving thanks, rest assured the fault is in yourself.”
~Chief Tecumseh, Shawnee Indian Chief
Yum 
yummy! of course, I would add a little bit of garlic….just because I add a little garlic to most things…I guess it’s just in my sicilian blood. lol
this looks great to make on football Sundays….
Now I’m kicking myself because I love garlic too!!!
Yummo!! I wonder if mushrooms would work too. Did the Outlet shopping come after toothbrush shopping. LOL. Nice meeting you again, in the same place ironically.
~giggles~ How crazy is that?? The two times I’ve been to Georgia this year I run into you BOTH times at Wal Mart!!! lol I expect I will see you once more before the year is out!!!!
Yes mushrooms work really well, but please, please, please Don’t forget the Garlic
My mom & I had a flat tire on 20 right outside of ATL. A trailer with a race car & (all that goes with it) pulled over to the side of the road right behind our car. All the guys got out & we thought we were getting ready to have some help with our flat tire. WRONG!! They walked right pass our car & us headed to a restaurant. Evidently, they couldn’t park the trailer in the restaurant’s parking lot. So much for Southern Chivalry….(& I’m SOUTHERN!!). Hope they lost the race! Hehe. Just joking…(not really!)….
Oh my word, my mouth dropped open reading this just as I’m sure yours did when you experienced it! This is just a call to raise our children to know better!
I’m totally feelin’ ya!!
If Yyu’re IN OR NEAR Atlanta, Call the HERO truck, They will come with a hydraulic jack and change your tire faster than you think is possible. No charge and you don’t tip them. Great guys, We had our s in the HOV lane. We needed to change the passenger rear tire. They stopped all lanes of traffic while crept across the interstate. He blew the horn when we were about half way. It sounded like a train, Almost scared me to death.
Looks so Delicious! Jo is right…I’d add garlic also. But, then again, I add garlic to almost everything. 😀
I always wonder what we may have happened when something unexpected happens. There is usually something that makes give thanks when that happens. I do believe that everything happens for a reason. <3 and Hugs!
I just want to say thanks for the positive thought every morning! It always reminds me to be grateful and get my morning started right! 🙂
This looks yummy Christy!! I’ll definitely be making this!!
I’m so glad you all were safe – like you said, no telling what that flat tire kept you from! God never runs out of ways to protect us!!
We’ve always felt the same way when something happens before or during a trip. Sometimes we’ve seen what we missed, other times not, but we are always grateful for God’s protective hand, however the help comes.
mmmm that looks good. Since I need to restock my refrigerator/freezers after our visit from Hurricane Irene I will definitely keep this one in mind for my shopping trip.
Ok my shopping trip is delayed until 1) all the spoiled stuff is thrown out (don’t want to kill the garbage men) 2) everything has been cleaned and sanitized and 3) I can go do some serious shopping again.
Probably this weekend. Thanks for this recipe that looks super simple, super tasty and great for a crowd!
Help! I want to print this recipe!! What is the zip list and how does it work???
Kat, just highlight the recipe, press control+c, open a new document in your word processing program and press control+v to paste. Give it a name and save it.
Sorry, this was for Cathy in Birmingham.
Thank you so much for helping!
Not being able to print it is my error. I’m working on fixing it now, thanks for letting me know! Zip list is Awesome! Login with your fb or you can create an account and save all the recipes you like to your own recipe box online. It works with several food websites, too!
You know, I love cooking roasts and shredding them – I shall have to try this! I love any meal that I can make into leftovers for the future. LOL
We used to live about a mile from the North GA outlets. That was dangerous to live so close!!!! I have a roast in the freezer that has this recipe written all over it. Thanks Christy!
Just seeing that beef made my mouth water. I would like it on my plate with crusty Italian bread as I am not much for sandwiches. Pass the cole slaw or potato salad too! Shame on those boys for not helping you out, but I am a firm believer in what goes around comes around. They should have been thinking of how their momma might have been in the same fix and they would want someone to assist her. I hope my sons would do better.
About what size roast? Looked like 5#? Love your cookbook and website. 🙂
Question – beef gravy not stock. Just want to make sure,If beef gravy then the jar brand is fine. thanks
I’m not sure what you’re asking, I’m afraid. Maybe you can clarify? I’m getting on in years…;)
YES it is beef gravy…..(even if it was stock, the jar brand “Great Value” would be fine) you call it stock, I call it broth…the difference is I’m older than you…Have a great day…
Ya’ll do things like I do, Christy! I had an entire screwdriver minus the plastic handle in my tire! All the way! Glad everything turned out ok!
Can’t wait to try this recipe!
We live about five miles from the outlets in N. GA! I should have waved at you from my house! 😉
Hi
This is my second or third visit to this site and I really do like it. I have your cookbook, Southern Plate, and it is great. I will have to try this recipie for Italian Beef as it is different from the recipie I use. I am another Alabama girl as I live in Sylvania. Be back to this site soon.
Hi Charlotte!! Welcome to Southern Plate. I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying the site and the recipes!!
Oh, Christy! So glad the four of you were kept safe during your trip. Amazing how our Father takes care of us, isn’t it? Take care! Mary
We are very blessed Mary, very blessed!!
That sounds tasty. I’ll give it a whirl. Just wondering how come parents don’t teach their kids manners anymore. Poor teachers at my William’s school are so amazed by his 4 yr old manners.
And, you know when something goes wrong with the car I think the same thing and just thank God.
I hope you enjoy the recipe Teresa!!
well gee, guess I missed you at the Outlets!! We love going over there, someday I hope to be able to “run” into you at Walmart, LOL, but kinda doubt that will happen. I know that the car problem is a way we are kept from harm, many times I have left a bit late, or had a problem of some type, get down the road and bamm there is a huge truck up a pole or a train just clearing the intersection. I’ve always believed that we are held back for some reason. Take care and Thanks again for allllllllll that you do!!!
You never know Marianne, it might just happen one day. Please make sure to say Hi if it does!!
Christy:
Receipe looks yummy – next on the list to cook!
Did you try the sweet potato biscuits at the Wildflower Cafe? WONDERFUL expecially after you pile the butter on….It could be part of the winter menu – we were there after the big snow.
Di
Christy,
Is there a reason you don’t save the liquid, de fat it and use it for soup later? Makes home made soup quicker and easier.
Yummy sounding roast. recipe, love, love love my crock pot!
I just don’t have the storage space right now and wasn’t planning on making soup or stew soon but you certainly can!
Yum! Thank you for sharing this recipe. I can’t wait to make it!
I hope you enjoy it Lisa!!
Christy What a great recipe. We do something like this with a pork roast.
Its yummy also.
And the next time you plan to be at the No. Ga. outlets, let me know and I will
meet you there for lunch. I live in Ga and fairly close to the outlets. Love to go there and shop and people watch.
Sue
We live in Chattanooga. You are right ~ it’s a great town! We’ve eaten at Wildflower Cafe in Menton. And I had the tomato pie. It IS yummy!!
Pick me, Christy! Pick me!!
I know what I’m making for the game Saturday! Thank you SO much for your web page. I am the only person on the planet that doesn’t have a smart phone so I have to go to your page 80 times a day so I don’t miss a post.
Your tailgate looks like so much fun and the Italian Beef Sandwich looks delicious! We thought you might be interested in checking out our Game Day Griller guide (http://www3.samsclub.com/meals/menu/game-day-griller-menu). Yummy recipes for the best tailgate around! – Amie from Sam’s Club
When you cook the roast do you put any liquid in other than the beef gravy?? Can’t wait to try this roast but making your chicken stew recipe today!!
Nope, no other liquid. It’ll make a good bit more. Save me some stew please! Hope you enjoy it!!
The Italian Beef sounds fantastic. I love using my slow cooker. The smell
when arriving home from work says “Welcome”!!
Hellooooo!! That Zesty Italian is full of garlic…and roast is always yummy no matter how it is fixed!!!!!! Love all your recipes, stories, books, videos, but your bow making one takes the cake for me!!! I love it over and over! You did a great job on it all the way through! Thanks and of course, Mama Reed’s Tea Cakes have been given out a hundred plus times. Love them best of all the foods!! That is saying a lot because alllll of your recipes are each THE BEST!!! Just like you, Christy. Thanks for all your work and all your fun and thanks to your family for sharing you with us!! I am GRATEFUL!!!
I have this in the slow cooker as we speak. Cannot wait for dinner tonight. We are having company over for a football watching party, and thought this would be perfect. Love all your recipes, I know this one will be a hit 🙂
ok…had to reply to my earlier post…this is so great! My toddlers loved it, as well as the adults who ate for the football party. Must make this a regular in my house
Touchdown!!!
I used a sirloin tip roast. removed fat layer when done cooking.
—-I added minced fresh garlic, and an extra jar of gravy. (I used onen red bell pepper, one green, an onion, …also added 1/2 mini-can of diced green chillies, and fresh julienned carrot, then saute’……sort of making a gardinara (sp)??
(I added less Italian dressing, but added in a little of the gravy towards the very end).
This was a filling, easy, and good ! Messy but good.
(I also topped hoagie roll with provolone or mozz cheeze and toasted to melt cheese).
: )
After reading this I am so ready for football season lol! Love your website! Go Vols!
Off to the store i go.Love your website!!!
Your “adventures” are starting to scare me!! :/ You need less excitement in your travels!! (Or maybe I do!!!) lol I’m glad it all ended with a “happily ever tailgate!!” 😉 With the excitement of football madness in the air, I look forward to your delicious recipes to warm the bellies of all!!! 😀
Christy, I have made and enjoyed this recipe so many times, but had to find a way to make it gluten free because my husband has celiac disease. It was so simple — just substitute an equal amount of gluten free beef broth for the beef gravy and you can’t tell the difference. Of course, you have to use gluten free bread or buns for the gluten free folks, but that is an easy change. Thanks for this wonderful and easy recipe. My grandchildren just rave about the sandwiches!
I am so glad to hear that you were able to make it work and thank you so much for sharing your tip with other readers who may have gluten problems.
Christy, i just came back from BECOMING & had the priviledge of attending your seminar (on friday night. I’m the despearate mom/wife/business owner who asked if i could use the ‘back-up meals’ as our everyday meals… Lol) Thank you so much for the much-needed motivation & encouragement; putting dinner on the table everynight now seems like a closer reality rather than a far-off dream… Lol. Anyway, now that i am home, pinning your recipes like crazy & getting my ‘game plan’ together before the craziness starts back next week, i was wondering if/how you would go about freezing any leftovers from this recipe and then preparing those leftovers (from frozen) when we’re ready to eat them.
Thanks again… If the only Becoming seminar i went to was your’s, the trip still would’ve been worth every penny!
I would just throw it in a freezer bag and freeze, then to have for another meal you can either thaw it and heat in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove top, or you could put it back in the slow cooker until heated through.
Thanks!
Just made these and they are absolutely to die for! Thank you so much Christy! I LOVE Southern plate and follow you on FB, as well as subscribe to your e-mails. You are such a joy andI have loved every recipe I’ve tried!
Oh my goodness, thank you so much Debbie!!!! I appreciate all of your support and am so glad to hear you are enjoying the recipes!
I had to Google the town. What an interesting place and cafe. http://www.mentonewildflower.com/