Feeling very fortunate at the holidays, our family has decided to share some of our traditional treats with your family. As many of you know, Jane is Catholic, I am Jewish, and Allie is a Cashew. We celebrate all holidays in our home. Since most religious celebrations involve food, they are most welcome.  Usually Passover precedes Easter. So that is how we will start.

We Didn’t Have Nothin’ Like This When We Were Slaves in Egypt Brisket

INGREDIENTS

One 4-5lb brisket, not trimmed

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground chipolte chili powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 dash red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon ground thyme

2 teaspoons black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

2 bay leaves

1 package Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix

1 large box beef stock (Kitchen Basics brand is preferrred)

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons molasses

 bottle Heinz Chili Sauce

1 bottle stout ale (chef’s choice)

1 can Coca-Cola

3 stalks celery, chopped

2 white medium onions chopped

4 cloves garlic minced

4 carrots, peeled and cut into coins

3 tablespoons peperoncini peppers diced fine

2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos diced fine

3 tablespoons estra virgin olive oil

1/8 cup worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon sriracha chili sauce

METHOD

Heat oven to 250

Mix all spices (except bay leaves) in a small bowl. Let brisket come to room temperature and rub the spice mixture into the meat on both sides. In a large Dutch oven heat 2 of the tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil on the stove top.. Get oil very hot and then place brisket fat side down and sear for 2 minutes on high heat. Turn the meat over and sear the other side for two minutes. Remove meat from Dutch oven onto a platter. Add the remaining tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and heat. To the oil add celery, onion, carrots and bay leaves. Season with a dash of salt and pepper and let saute until semi-soft. Add the peperoncini peppers and the jalapenos. Make the Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix to package directions. Add soup to the veggies. Then quickly add beef stock, brown sugar, molasses, Heinz Chili Sauce, the ale,  worcestershire sauce, sriracha and the coke. Let marry over medium heat for 4 minutes. Add the meat back to the Dutch oven, FAT SIDE UP! Cover it with lid or foil.  Place Dutch oven in oven and cook for 7 hours. Don’t be opening the oven all the time to check on it. Just let it do it’s thing. After 7 hours remove meat from Dutch oven and cut across the grain.

This brisket always makes my girls smile at the Sedar table.

Moving on to Easter everyone thinks of their mom’s ham or their grandmother’s sweet potatoes. This is not the case with the Feldman Trio. Every year we look forward to one thing…………….Really Unhealthy Potato Casserole. As you read the list of ingredients you will know why the name fits so well.

Really Unhealthy Potato Casserole

INGREDIENTS

5 cups water

4 cups frozen hash brown potatoes (we prefer the shredded variety)

one 7 ounce pakage of Betty Crocker Butter and Herb Mashed Potato Mix

1 stick butter

4 ounces cream cheese

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack chesse

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 cups french fried onion rings (the kind we all use for green bean casserole at Thanksgiving)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350. Soften butter and cream cheese together in the microwave. Just keep your eye on it. Boil water, add hash browns. Cook 5 minutes. Drain. Set aside. Prepare Betty Crcker potatoes according to package directions. In a large bowl mix together the hash browns, mashed potatoes, butter, cream cheese, Jack cheese, sour cream, garlic salt, salt, and pepper. Pam a 2 quart casserole and dump the mixture in. Bake 30-35 minutes or untill golden brown on top. Remove from oven and sprinkle on the fried onions. return to oven for 8 minutes to brown the onions.

This side dish becomes the star of Easter. Move over Tom Turkey. Move Over Honey Baked Ham. Can I have more potatoes pleaae?

We hope that you share these recipes with your families. From our home to yours………………………….

 

Happy Holidays