WHAT'S FOR DINNER? SOUTHWESTERN PULLED BRISKET SANDWICHES served on brioche rolls or tortillas

SOUTHWESTERN PULLED BRISKET SANDWICHES

serves 8

5-6 lbs "point cut" beef brisket

salt

pepper

10 cloves garlic, peeled & smashed with butt of knife

1 1/2 diced onion

2 T chili powder

4 t ground cumin

1/2 C apple cider vinegar

3 C water

2 - 14.5oz cans whole peeled tomatoes with juices

1/2 can whole chipotle chiles en adobo

2 bay leaves

6 T molasses

brioche rolls or tortillas

Season brisket generously with salt and pepper. Heat large skillet over medium high heat. Add meat and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer the meat to the slow cooker. Leave the skillet on the heat.

Add garlic, onion, chili powder & cumin to drippings in the skillet and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add vinegar and boil until it's almost gone, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in water and pour the mixture over the brisket.

Crush the tomatoes through your fingers into the slow cooker; add the tomato juices, chipotles, bay leaves & molasses.

Cover the cooker; set it on LOW and cook the brisket until it pulls apart easily with a fork, about 8 hours.

Leave the meat in the slow cooker and use 2 forks to pull it apart and stir it evenly into the sauce; season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove & discard bay leaves. 

Pile the meat on the halved brioche rolls or tortillas.

Brioche Rolls

"Let them eat cake!" - Marie Antoinette

makes 8 - 1/2 lb rolls

1 1/2 C warm water

1 1/2 T yeast (or 2 pkts)

1 T salt

8 lightly beaten eggs

1/2 C honey

1 1/2 C (or 3 sticks) unsalted melted butter

7 1/2 C flour

Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 T water)

Pour water into large bowl and sprinkle yeast on top for 5-8 minutes. Add salt, eggs, honey and melted butter. Mix in flour stirring with a wooden or bamboo spoon until mixed. Place in oven at 100 degrees to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and punch down. Place in refrigerator to chill. Use within 5 days.

Dust surface of cold dough with flour and cut off 1/2 lb (orange sized) piece. Dust with more flour and quickly shape into a ball by stretching surface of the dough around the bottom on all four sides, rotating a quarter turn as you go.

Place onto pizza stone and allow to rise for 1 hour and 20 min or 45 min in a 100 degree oven.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees 20 min before you want to bake it.

Brush the top crust with egg wash.

Place in center of the oven and bake for 35-40 min or until golden brown.

Allow to cool before slicing or eating.