Braised Brisket and Vegetables

Braised Brisket and Vegetable:
5 lbs beef brisket, fat removed
3 lbs potatoes
1 lbs sliced carrots
1 lbs button mushroom whole
3 onions
3 garlic gloves
3 ribs celery
1 cup balsamic vinegar
3-4 cups chicken stock
5 sprigs thyme, bundled
salt and pepper

Coarsely chop onions and garlic. Chop carrots, potatoes, and celery in large bite size pieces. Put all the vegetables, onions, garlic, mushrooms, and thyme in a large roasting pan. Spring with salt and pepper. Lay brisket over vegetables and pour in vinegar. Add chicken stock to level with brisket, but not covered. Put in a 225 degree oven for 10 hours.

Remove brisket and pour liquid into a large saucepan. Turn heat on high and let reduce. If it doesn't thicken to your liking. Mix 1tbs cornstarch with water and whisk in while boiling.

This is the perfect meal for entertaining on a week day. Just put it in the oven and don't think about it until you get home from work. Great with a side of white rice to pour gravy over.

Skillet Baked Tilapia

Skillet Baked Tilapia:

4 filets of fish (Tilapia, flounder, red snapper, and similar fish)

1 lbs bags fresh spinach

1 small onion diced

1 tbs olive oil

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 can diced tomatoes with garlic and onions

3-4 tbs bread crumbs

1 tbs italian seasoning

shredded parmesan cheese

salt and pepper

Preheat oven 400 degrees. Heat oil in skillet and add onions. After 1 minute add spinach until begins to wilt. Lay fish filets on top of spinach. Sprinkle salt and pepper over entire pan. Gently pour wine over top fish, then the can of tomatoes. Sprinkle bread crumbs, italian seasoning, then cheese and bake in top half of the oven for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and fish is cooked through. Great served over my simple pasta or with loaf of italian bread.

Egg Salad

Egg Salad:

1 dozen eggs hard boiled and shell removed
1/4 cup mayo plus 2 tbs
1 heaping tsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp paprika

Chop eggs and gently mix with rest of ingredients, Chill and serve.

Double Chocolate Raspberry Cookies

1 box Pillsbury double chocolate cookie mix

3 tbs water

1/4 cup oil

1 egg

Frozen red raspberries

Mix first 3 ingredients. Form 1 teaspoon of dough in to a bowl and put 2 raspberries in center. Work dough around and into a ball around the berries and bake 10 minutes on 350.

Soooo good!

Check out the Spicy Cheese Meatloaf, I updated the recipe

Jambalaya

2 boxes Zataran's Jambalaya

1 lbs smoked sausage

1 lbs cooked chunked chicken, pork, or raw shrimp

1 large onion diced

2 garlic gloves diced

1 red bell pepper diced

1 green bell pepper diced

5 cups water

It is so easy to use a box meal like this, especially when cooking for a large crowd, but adding fresh ingredients makes a short cut like boxed rice taste like you made it from scratch.

Brown sausage, add onion, peppers, and garlic and cook until soft. Mix in second meat, and add water. Bring to a boil and add contents of box. Return to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Leave for 30 minutes without uncovering. Give a final stir and its ready to serve!