Brisket

Avoid this palaver and go to the recipe.

Resolutions for 2023

Is it worth writing these down? I don’t know. How often do people make a list and then forget about it? I would guess it’s most of the time.

The one thing I want to push myself to do next year is to seek clarity in everything. Because I’m partially deaf and because of my tinnitus, I often mishear things. Rather than ask for the words to be repeated, I smile and pretend I understand. I’m also too proud to seek clarity when someone says something that sounds like a good form of words, but I don’t understand what they’re saying. I know some people who are good with words but aren’t very clear. Context is everything; sometimes, context is assumed when it shouldn’t be.

I’m guilty of this myself. I will use a technically correct word or phrase rather than plain language. Next year, I aim to always add an explanation to any technical phraseology to ensure I’m understood. I always try to make the context plain.

There are other aspects I need to improve, and I mentioned those last week. If you liked last’s week’s meal, there’s a follow-up with the leftover KFC.

How will I celebrate New Year’s Eve?

I had no plans. I figured I’d cook a meal, watch TV, and then go to bed.

The meal is a piece of brisket. I bought a portion that will provide a meal tonight and meat during the week for lunches. I’m looking forward to cold brisket and warm gravy sandwiches. I’ll post a story to Random Yummy in the next few days.

The dessert was ice cream and granola.

New Year's Eve dessert. Ice cream and granola. pic.twitter.com/3udOSnljPe

— Gary (@randomyummy) December 31, 2022

Recipe

Equipment used

• Pressure cooker
• Saucier pan
• Toaster oven

Ingredients

• Brisket
• Potato
• Carrot
• Celery
• Onion
• Brussels sprouts
• Butter
• Flour
• Beef stock
• Red wine

Instructions

1. Roughly chop and dice the potato, carrot, onion, and celery.
2. Heat a frying pan and add some neutral oil.
3. Dry the surface of the brisket with some absorbent paper.
4. Place the brisket into the pan and sear the outside surface.
5. Put the brisket into the pressure cooker.
6. Sauté the potato, carrot, onion, and celery until the vegetables soften a little and take on some colour.
7. Put the potato, carrot, onion, and celery into the pressure cooker.
8. Deglaze the pan with red wine and add a cup of beef stock.
9. Pour the wine and stock into the pressure cooker.
10. Cook under pressure for 45 minutes and then allow the pressure to reach equilibrium naturally.
11. Cut the Brussels sprouts in half and rub them with olive oil.
12. Put the Brussels sprouts on a baking tray and cook at 200 °C for about 30 minutes.
13. Remove the brisket and place it in a shallow dish. Cover it with some aluminium foil.
14. Pass the cooking liquor through a sieve and keep the liquid in a jug for making gravy.
15. Make a roux with equal amounts of butter and flour. I used 20 g of both butter and flour.
16. Gradually pour the filtered cooking liquor into the roux and make gravy.
17. Slice a couple of pieces of brisket and put it on a dinner plate.
18. Put the Brussels sprouts next to the brisket.
19. Drizzle some gravy over the brisket and Brussels sprouts.
20. Give thanks to the Lord.
21. Enjoy the last dinner for 2022, watch some TV, and look forward to some creamy vanilla ice cream with granola.

Photographs

Final thoughts

• I hope you have a great New Year’s Eve and a Happy New Year 😃
• May 2023 be the best year you’ve ever lived.
• I’ll see you next year.

Endnotes

Roux. Making a roux is simple. Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in all the flour, and whisk for three minutes. Three minutes will ensure the taste of raw flour is removed. You can make a dark roux with a hot pan and a lighter beige roux with a moderate pan.

Brussels sprouts. Why only one vegetable? I wanted a small meal because I had a big bowl of ice cream planned for dessert. I also had a large serving of hot chips for lunch.

The hot chips at the Westfield Belconnen fish shop are good; I made them better with cheese, pepper, and 200 °C for 10 minutes. It accentuates the chicken salt. pic.twitter.com/YrKL9YTDtl

— Gary (@randomyummy) December 31, 2022

Leftover brisket and gravy roll https://t.co/ItrGob5PzL

— Gary (@randomyummy) January 1, 2023