Recipe(tried): Beef Brisket, Noodle Pudding (Kugel), Salad w/ Dressing, and Texas Brownies

Here are some great recipes for cold/cool days - real comfort foods! It's been cool enough in SW Florida to make some of these this past week.

Beef Brisket

5-6# fresh brisket, trimmed of most of the fat
salt, pepper
garlic powder
Kitchen Boquet
1 pkg. Lipton Soup mix
2 large onions, sliced thin and left in rings
1 cup dry red wine

Trim any excess fat from brisket. Rub the entire brisket, top and bottom with the liquid Kitchen Bouquet. Then salt, pepper and garlic powder to your tastes.

Lay brisket in a large oblong pan, which you have lined with heavy duty foil.

Sprinkle the onion soup mix over top of the brisket, and distribute the fresh onions over that. Add wine around the sides of the meat. Seal tightly with the foil

Bake at 350 for about 3 hours or until fork tender.

Note: Brisket is even better made the day before and cooled in the refrigerator overnight. Pour off the gravy and store it separately in refrig. If using for a company meal the next day, remove from refrigerator and slice across the grain of the meat, arrange slices in a pretty serving dish with sides on it - Pour gravy over the top and reheat, covered, in low oven - 250 or 300 degrees for about 45 minutes, or until well heated through.

I have also made this brisket in a regular deep pan with foil tightly tucked around the edge of the pan. It works just fine that way, too, and although it's a bit hard to slice if you want it the same day - it's worth the effort!

Serve with Noodle Pudding (Kugel)

Noodle Pudding (Kugel)

1 pkg. Wide Noodles (8-10 oz size)
(Cook noodles in boiling salted water, drain and rinse in cold water.)

Beat together:
1/2 lb. cottage cheese, small curd (1 cup)
1/2 pt. sour cream
4 oz. cream cheese
1/4 c. milk
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 stick butter or margarine
1/2 c. raisins
3 eggs

Combine with noodles. Put noodle mixture into well-buttered oblong casserole dish and top with the following:

Topping:
3 c. cornflakes
1/2 stick butter or margarine
1/2 c. brown sugar

Crumble cornflakes with hands and mix with brown sugar and melted butter. Top noodle mixture with topping. Bake 350 for 40-60 minutes.

Although this is a somewhat sweet tasting dish, it goes perfectly with the brisket.

Salad and Dressing (Makes a large salad)

Part I
3 cloves garlic
1 1/2 c. canola oil
1 c. red wine vinegar
6 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. salt

Pulse the garlic very fine in food processor, then add the oil, vinegar, sugar and salt, blend well in processor.

Part II
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds toasted on cookie sheet for 5 minutes at 350 degrees until light brown.

Part III

1 pkg. bacon, fried, drained and crumbled
4 oz. blue cheese crumbled
1 pkg. of 3 heads of Romaine hearts, torn or cut up

Directions: Toss Part II and Part III together. Pour Part I over the top and retoss. Serve at once. These ingredients can be made ahead of time and put together at the last minute. It's a wonderful salad and dressing.

Texas Cake or Brownies with Frosting

2 sticks margarine
1 c. water
4 Tbsp. cocoa

Boil these 3 ingredients.

Then stir in:
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/2 c. sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla

Pour mixture into greased cookie sheet that has sides (not high sides) 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" size pan.

Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frost while warm with following:
Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly the following ingredients:

1 stick margarine
6 Tbsp. milk
3 or 4 Tbsp. cocoa

Remove from heat, then add:
1 box Confectioner's sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup nuts (optional)
Beat until desired thickness, spread over top of cake/brownies. These are very moist and worth the effort!

Hope you enjoy these wonderful, but rich dishes.

June