Author: Andrew

Onion-Braised Beef Brisket

braised-brisket

Made this a few weeks ago & the family is still talking about it!  We ended up with a slightly more tender product than I expected but it tasted great nonetheless.  Mashed potatoes were the starch of choice the first time around but the egg noodles sounded great too!

From America’s Test Kitchen

This recipe requires a few hours of unattended cooking. It also requires advance preparation. After cooking, the brisket must stand overnight in the braising liquid that later becomes the sauce; this helps to keep the brisket moist and flavorful. Defatting the sauce is essential. If the fat has congealed into a layer on top of the sauce, it can be easily removed while cold. Continue reading “Onion-Braised Beef Brisket”

New Starbucks Breakfast Sandwiches

3326499714_f18abafac8As a frequent traveler I’m often in search of a quick breakfast before starting the work day.  Although I’ll almost always pick a local brew-house over a chain, Starbucks has come to my rescue on more than one occasion.  The only thing truly missing from Starbucks was a decent breakfast sandwich.

The company’s first attempt, in my opinion, fell flat.  Although all the right components were there (bacon/sausage, egg, cheese) the flavors were bland and pretty unappealing.

Starbucks has made an attempt to better their breakfast lineup by “upgrading” their breakfast sandwich offerings to now include:

•Artisan Bacon Sandwich, a flavorful bakery-style sandwich made with a parmesan egg frittata, four smoked bacon slices, and Gouda cheese on a perfectly-baked hand-shaped artisan roll

starbucks_cup
•Artisan Ham Sandwich, a delightful combination featuring a parmesan egg frittata, three slices of Black Forest ham, and mild cheddar on a perfectly-baked hand-shaped artisan roll

After trying both of these (on different days (ha)) I can honestly say it’s a step in the right direction!  Both sandwiches are a lot more flavorful that the origional version and they are served nice and hot right out of the microwave/convection contraption.

Now if only Starbucks would stop closing the stores near my client sites!