Roulades have been the main course at Grandma and Grandpa E's Christmas feast for many years. They can be prepared well in advance and are reheated and served with gravy.

You can expect to make 6 roulades per lb of beef round.

Beef Roulades Stuffed with Bacon and Onions
1. Have the butcher slice bottom or top round as thin as possible.
2. Purchase one lb of bacon and one large onion for every two pounds of beef.
3. Cut the beef slices into 3" x 4" pieces.
4. Slice the onions into rings; cut the rings into crescents.
5. On each piece of beef, place a bacon strip, folded to fit, and several cresents of onion.
6. Season with salt and/or pepper, if desired.
7. Roll the beef up and secure the roll with toothpicks or string.
8. Brown each roulade, preferably in bacon drippings or salt pork.
9. Place the roulades in a large pot or casserole.
10. Add 1.5 cups liquid (water, stock or dry wine) per 6 roulades.
11. Cover and simmer slowly in a preheated 300 degree oven or over direct heat for one hour and fifteen minutes.
12. The roulades are cooked when the beef has a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

To make gravy ahead of time:
1. Remove the cooked roulades from the cooking pot.
2. Allow the remaining liquid to cool.
3. Removed the congealed fat on top.
4. Warm the skimmed broth.
5. Put one-half cup of the broth in a cup.
6. Add cornstarch to the cup and stir until smooth. How much cornstarch you add depends on your estimate of how much broth you are turning into gravy. Use about one T of cornstarch for every cup of broth in the pot.
7. Add contents of cup to broth. Stir until smooth.
8. Simmer while stirring until thickened.

Alternative stuffings:
• Ham with carrot and celery;
• Seasoned cooked rice with chopped stuffed olives.