3-4 lb. pot roast
2 cloves garlic
4 tbsp. butter
salt
flour
1 large onion sliced
12 whole peppercorns
12 whole allspice
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. grated horseradish
1/2 c. good rum or dry red wine
1/2 c. water

If Desired:

1 recipe dumplings
small whole carrots or larger carrots quartered

Mash the garlic and sauté in the butter. Rub the meat with salt and flour and brown it well on all sides in the butter. Lay the meat on a bed of thin sliced onions in a large Dutch oven or any pot with tight-fitting lid. Add the butter, the spices and seasonings and pour the rum or wine over the meat. A good pot roast will supply most of its own juices, but as it cooks, pour the 1/2 c. water over it to make an ample supply of gravy. Cover tightly and simmer for 3 or 4 hours until the roast is tender. This may be done either in the oven or on the stove. If you want carrots with the roast, add them to the pot for the last half hour of cooking, and for the last 12 minutes of cooking add the dumplings to steam in the flavors of the pot. When the roast is done, remove it to a hot, round platter and surround with the dumplings and carrots. Stir the gravy until smooth, correcting the seasoning if necessary. Pour it over the meat. If fresh dill is available, cut it over the dish with a lavish hand.

Serves 6-8.

Dumplings:

2 c. flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 scant cup milk

Stir together the dry ingredients and add the milk gradually. Drop by the spoonful into the gravy and cook with the pot roast or stew during the last 12 minutes of cooking.