Stella's Social Club

[robhuncor]

Hurricane Patricia passed through a few nights ago at 3 am, waking most of the town with high winds and driving rain. When I woke up I could not at first figure out why, then I saw the tall cedars behind the house tossing wildly. By morning almost every single leaf had been blown off the trees - so autumn is finishing out here.

Same here. All the leaves off except the Oak trees, the last to drop- and the worst to rake up, they are so thick and heavy. But this year, I get to lay here looking out the window with my broken foot up watching my DH & DS do it all. I think I would rather be out there - I haven't seen my chickens for over a week. I really appreciate the guys helping me but I know things are not being done according to my standards!

 

[The Sheriff]

things are not being done according to my standards!

They never are!

But for a sick old lady, I can git er done!

 

[drumstick diva]

Mary, you are positively psychic. I just bought a beef brisket today- flat cut was all they had and the cheapest was $ 15.and change, on sale. I have already ruined beef stew in the crock pot ( too salty ), 2 eye of round roasts that were tough and tastless (after 8 hours on low). I have no dog to eat the rejects and beef cost plenty.

It is with great trepidation that I bought brisket. My mom made the best in the world without a crock pot. But, I need the assist and gentleness of a crock pot. I have a small one for 2 people. I would love some pointers from you, that skip nine million spices/herbs and other additions. My mom used to use nothing but a little water and ketchup. Maybe she had better quality meat to work with.

I would just like brisket that falls apart when you try to cut it, and more flavor to it than a wooden plank, cutting board, or cardboard. My standards aren't high, and it doesn't have to look beautiful. The brisket is too large for my crock pot, so I will hold 1/2 of it back for a second attempt if I ruin the first half. You can see I go out not expecting much, and very used to failure,

Please Mary, thank you in advance. My spices are limited to garlic powder, and onion flakes. And I have one very small baking potato.

 

[The Sheriff]

Well Diva I can tell you that my brisket has been cooking all day in a new crockpot (for two servings) and is still tough as a boot. It took forever to heat up! I tossed my old one when we moved because I tended to cook too much in it and it had been recalled years ago because the crock could explode. Reason enough I think.

Anyway I put in half an onion, a few diced carrots, two cloves of garlic, beef stock, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. My plan is to sauce a small green paper separately to add to my sandwich because Michael hates peppers. But...my new oven just burned the crap out of the bread I was baking for the sandwiches.

I am not sure what the deal is with this oven but everything gets too brown on the top. It is not set to convection either. I have burned two Papa Murphys pizza in it. Love is not at 425 degrees here! Last night I even moved it to a lower rack and lowered the temp to 400. The pizza was too done on top and the crust was still soggy. I may need to get out the manual.

I am going to cut the burnt tops of the bread and use it anyway tonight because I am not going back to the store!

Let me know how yours goes. It sounds like you could just add the seasoning you have and a little ketchup and water and hope for the best on the first half. You can always go to Plan B with the second half. Save that potato, you may have to make soup for dinner! Me too!

 

[drumstick diva]

Thank you, I feel much better about failing. I got the little 2 person crock pot at Target for $ 11 or $ 12, I like it but it is manual. It doesn't shut off or keep warm till you rescue it. With my daylong naps, I have to pay a lot of attention.

I hope your brisket gives up it's toughness. If even you fail, there is no hope for me.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Diva - the key to brisket is cooking it slow. You could also cook it in a pan with some water and cover it with foil. Put it in the oven at 300 for a few hours. Make sure the water doesn't evaporate, if it does, add more. Season however you would like.

There are some brisket recipes that use coffee in them. I'm going to try one sometime soon. (got lots of briskets in the freezer to use up)

 

[drumstick diva]

My brisket will be cooking till 3 :18 am (8 hours) my time - I can say it smells good already - maybe that is a good sign.

Once looking on line for brisket recipes, long ago, there was one that said to add grape jelly and it would come out nice & moist. Needless to say I never thought of doing so. Sounded too sweet for meat but, what do I know? Some people said to cook it in coke - duh!

 

[kathyinmo]

We love, love, love the 3 packet roast recipe (in the crock pot).

1 roast
1 pkt (dry) ranch dressing
1 pkt (dry) italian dressing
1 pkt (dry) brown gravy
1 or 2 cups of water.

I always add an onion, too.

When it is nearly tender enough, I throw in potatoes and carrots, and continue for 90 minutes or until they are done, too.

 

[drumstick diva]

Okay guys my brisket is done - 8 hours . 1st.hour on high, next 7 on low. Has shriveled to practically half it's former size and is very tender & falling apart. Taste is NOT what I hoped for but it's NOT tough. Score one for my side.

Still have the other almost half for plan b. Maybe it can wait till I get to a grocery store, I'd like to use real garlic and onion instead of from a shaker bottle. It is 3:18 am so will be heading to bed as soon as it cools off enough for the refrigerator.

 

[The Sheriff]

My brisket came out good too! I shredded it and made hot sandwiches. The rolls came out too brown on top but I cut that part off, melted some provalone cheese on it under the broiler, added the shredded beef and ate it! They were very good sandwiches but I wasn't really hungry from snacking on the tops of the bread that I cut off!

I am making Asian chicken wings for dinner tonight with rice as a side dish. I am trying to get stuff used up that has been in the freezer awhile as a part of my budget plan. I have a tendency to run to the the store rather than meal plan from what I have on hand. New house, new me? Let's hope!

Afetr I finish the furniture piece I am working on I will try baking bread again on the convection setting. I have to figure out what is going on with this oven. After the hell I went through to get it, I want to make good stuff in it!