Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Trim fat from meat. Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper. In a roasting pan or large Dutch oven brown roast on all sides in hot oil over medium heat. Carefully drain fat from pan; discard. Add beef broth, onion, and celery to pan.

Roast, covered, for 1-1/4 hours. Remove celery with slotted spoon; discard. Add desired vegetables around roast. Roast, uncovered, for 50 to 60 minutes more or until meat and vegetables are tender, spooning juices twice during roasting.

Using a slotted spoon, remove meat and vegetables to platter. For gravy, measure pan juices; skim off any fat. Discard enough pan juice or add enough water to equal 1-1/2 cups. In a saucepan whisk together the cold water and flour until well combined; add the 1-1/2 cups pan juices. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir for 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper. Pass gravy with meat and vegetables. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Place vegetables in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Trim fat from meat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cut roast to fit, if necessary; place on top of vegetables. Omit cooking oil. Add beef broth to cooker. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 9 to 11 hours or on high-heat setting for 4-12 to 5-12 hours. Remove meat and vegetables from cooker; cover to keep warm. Using 1-12 cups of the cooking juices, prepare gravy as directed in Step 3. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pass gravy.