Beef on Weck and Thrift Finds

I am out of control. I went again. The shame is unbearable. But I scooped this cute little sterling dish for 1.95.


A 75 cent plate.


Three more relish trays. What am I going to do with all of these? For a 1.25 each, I couldn't pass them up.


A lemon juicer for a dollar.


Two cute little candlewick plates with a fruit motif.


This little glass bowl came with 4 matching plates all for 1.95.


I love this retro juice pitcher with apples. 1.50


Anyone ever hear of beef on wecks? I used to live in Upstate New York and these are found on menus everywhere. On the way to the thrift shop yesterday, the Blog Tech and I passed an old fashioned butcher shop. I had been there once to get my beef suet for the mincemeat I made for Christmas but he had never been to the shop. My great grandfather was a butcher and owned one of the first A&P's. My grandfather always told me stories about the butcher shop, so I have a very sentimental spot for butchers. We decided to stop in. This is really some butcher shop I will tell you. The owner still buys beef by the side. That was how I was able to get suet. A side of beef (picture the punching scene in Rocky) comes with the suet still attached. Most stores have their meat butchered elsewhere and shipped in. Then the suet is sold to companies that make suet feeders for birds. Anyway, we stood and watched as they butchered the meat right in from of us. I asked for a large sirloin tip roast, promising the Blog Tech his first 'beef on weck' sandwich. This baby weighed 7 lbs. and cost 2.89 per pound. That is a lot of meat for 20.00.


Now I must confess, I am a bit rusty in the roast department. I haven't made one in 30 years. But my grandfather learned how to cook from his butcher father. And I stood by his side as a small child soaking in his every move in the kitchen. So, just like Papa, I sprinkled the beef with freshly cracked pepper, salt, thyme and granulated garlic. He always used fresh garlic but for this roast, granulated works best.




I placed it on a rack in a pan. you don't want it to stew in it's own juices. Yep, that's where the saying comes from. I have stewed in my own juices way too many times to count.


I cooked this at 500 degrees for 25 minutes and then lowered the temp to 350 and cooked it for about another hour and a half. It should register about 140 on a meat thermometer to be medium.


Then I got out the beast. I used to throw huge parties and I always made all of my own food, so I invested in one of these. I am sure most of you don't have one of these laying around, so just use a very sharp knife and a lot of patience and you can do almost as good a job as the beast does.


I cut the roast in half so it would fit on the slicer.


And started slicing. Maybe it's just me but I love playing with the beast.


After a few minutes, I had this. Seven pounds of roast beef for less than 3.00 a pound. And no fillers or artificial flavors.


Kummelweck rolls are basically Kaiser rolls covered in caraway seeds and cracked salt.


They are a bit unusual in that they call for malt powder.


What a nice dough to work with.



Excuse my horrible looking pizza stone. But if it were neat looking, no one would be eating good pizza! The dough is rising as I type. The Blog Tech has a basketball game shortly so he had to get this up and running for me before he left. The finished product will be posted tomorrow. Yum anticipation!

Comments

Sharon Day said…
Ah, sounds sooooo good! Beautiful flea market finds--I agree, the pitcher is awesome!
Mr. Macabre said…
I'm out of control when it comes to flea markets, I can't help myself. I love all the little salt dishes, fish forks, dessert spoons and all!
Ok, what kind of mixer do you have, I'm having mixer envy (I don't think it's a Kitchenaid but if it's a Viking, I will be seriously jealous!).
It´s no use feeling shame when the things costs so little :-) :-)

I´m not sure if I´ve ever eaten beef on weck, but it looks familiar to something my grandmother used to do long ago. I´ll know better when seeing the finished result.
Have a great day now!
Christer.
William Bezek said…
I just had an "Ah-Ha" moment when I saw your dough rising in (I presume) a warm oven. I made pizza last week but the dough would not rise because my marble and glass walled kitchen was just too bloody cold! It was the worst pizza I ever made.
Unknown said…
Wow you have been productive. That roast looks so good!
William Bezek said…
Thanks for the info Jaz, yes I do use rapid rise...in the jar because I hate trying to open those little foil packets. I proofed it warm water so I knew it was active but like I said my kitchen was pretty much a walk-in cooler that night!
You hit the mother load of great glass finds! I love all your treasures and at those prices you can't not get them!! Wow the beef looks so yummy.
brokenteepee said…
I had a slicer before we took off in the trailer...no more now. *sigh*
The first step is to surrender and admit that you are powerless over thrifting . . . . Then attend a meeting of your local chapter of Thrifters Anonymous. Hee hee!
Jeanine DeNitto said…
love the sterling dish. and that's awesome your thrift store sells beef. ;-)
Suzie said…
I LOVE our Thrifters Anonymous meetings! We hold our own in house flea markets to raise money! (think about it! lol)
More excellent finds!! I can fully understand how you cannot pass them by!
I'm sitting here thinking that you have probably enjoyed the fruits of your labors, while we are all still drooling on our keyboards. Sigh. I'll try and be patient, especially since I don't have a choice! :-)
SQUEAL!

I have the same knobby serving platter as your $.75 find and about a dozen of those same little relish dishes as on the right... my great grandmother passed 2 of them on to me and every time I come across them at a thrift or yard sale I can't resist. I use them for everything when I entertain... they are perfect for spreading around "samples" at parties and get together s.
Bridgett said…
Mmmm...I bet your husband was loving you for making him that yummy food AND letting him watch sports on TV. :)

Love that pitcher you found. So cute!

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