Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

RSJ’s Mississippi Pot Roast

Ingredients

2½ -3 pounds Beef shoulder roast
1 Tbsp Kosher salt
2 tsp Black pepper
1 Tbsp teak Seasoning
¼ cup Bacon grease (or canola oil)
¼ cup Olive oil
½ cup Flour
2 cups Onion, diced
1 Large onion, cut into wedges
3 cups Beef broth, hot
2 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
3 Carrots, peeled and cut into quarters
¼ tsp Thyme
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

Season the beef with Kosher salt, pepper, and steak seasoning. In a large heavy-duty skillet, heat the bacon grease over high heat. Brown roast on all sides and place in a roasting pan.

Lower heat on the skillet and add olive oil and flour to make a peanut butter-colored roux. Add diced onions and thyme and continue to cook for four to five minutes. Add hot beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and stir until smooth.

Pour liquid into roasting pan with the pot roast. Cover with foil and place in oven. Cook two hours. Remove foil and add carrots and onions.

Return to oven and cook uncovered for another hour. Remove, add potatoes and cook for one more hour.

Yield: 8 servings

Recent Recipes

Orange Cranberry Muffins

These muffins are like Christmas morning in a bite—bright, citrusy orange paired with tart, bursting cranberries. The combination feels like something you'd find in a festive basket dropped off by a thoughtful neighbor. Perfect for Christmas gift giving or to have on hand for guests throughout the holiday.

Read more

Chocolate Christmas Cheesecake

Chef Linda Roderick has been by my side through these cookbooks for over two decades, and there’s no one I’d rather have guiding me through a cheesecake recipe. She’s a master of the craft—steady, exacting, and always aiming for perfection. This rich, decadent chocolate cheesecake is no exception. It's all about balance. The deep, smooth chocolate filling meets a crisp, slightly salty crust for a perfect bite every time. Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing—otherwise, you’ll end up with lumps. And when you melt the chocolate, give it time to cool slightly before mixing it into the batter, so you don’t end up with curdled filling. It’s worth the patience, every time. A few techniques can elevate this recipe to another level: chilling the dough overnight for a richer flavor, using a water bath to ensure an ultra-smooth texture, and letting the cheesecake rest for at least 24 hours before serving for the best flavor.

Read more

Harrison’s Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Having a son who’s following in your footsteps is one thing. Watching him take what you’ve taught him and elevate it to something even better—that’s special. During his Christmas break from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, a few years ago, he nudged me out of the way and made these mashed potatoes. I was skeptical, of course as I’ve been making mashed potatoes for decades. But there was no question his version was better. There’s a lot of pride in seeing him excel in the kitchen, making something as simple as mashed potatoes taste extraordinary. This recipe has become a new tradition in our family. Watching him cook now, with all that skill and precision, is a proud moment for me every time. This is his recipe, and I’ve adopted it as my own.

Read more