Bloggy Progressive Dinner – The Main Dish

I don’t know how anyone can be hungry after all the delicious drinks, appetizers, and salads that have been served up this week during the Bloggy Progressive Dinner, but come on in!  I’ve prepared for you one of my favorite meals; barbecued beef brisket, twice-baked potatoes, homemade rolls, and green beans.

Brisket is a treat for us because we get only one (if at all) in our quarter of beef for the year.  It’s definitely best cooked “low and slow.”  Since I prepare it just once a year, I don’t mess around too much with experimenting.  Once I found and tried this recipe from my hometown church cookbook, I was sold.  As for the spices, I do substitute some of those.  For instance, I use onion powder instead of onion salt (because that’s what’s in my spice cabinet).  Use what you have.  It’ll be great!  Don’t be upset that there aren’t measurements for everything; just sprinkle it over the meat on both sides and call it good.

Barbecued Beef Brisket

• 6 lb. brisket
• 3 Tbsp. liquid smoke
• garlic powder
• onion salt
• celery salt
• pepper
• Worcestershire sauce

Sprinkle brisket with liquid smoke, garlic powder, onion salt and celery salt.  Cover with foil.  (I put mine in a Ziploc bag.)  Let sit overnight.  In the morning sprinkle with pepper and Worcestershire sauce.  Cover and bake 5 hours at 275°.  Drain grease.  Uncover and bake 1 hour longer with barbecue sauce*.  Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes.  Either pull meat apart with a fork or cut in thin slices against the grain.

*Barbecue Sauce

• 1 c. ketchup
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. celery seed
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 c. water
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/4 c. vinegar

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.  Bring to a low boil.  Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.

Ours was only about a 2 lb. brisket this time, so I cut the recipe in half.  If you don’t have a 1/8 cup available, use 2 tablespoons.  Four tablespoons = 1/4 cup, so 2 T. = 1/8 cup.

Twice-baked potatoes, although incredibly yummy, are a dish that I usually reserve for special company like all of you!  It is much less labor intensive and nearly as tasty to whip up a cheesy potato casserole, but for presentation and richness… you can’t beat these potatoes!  The most fantastic thing about them is their versatility; add and subtract ingredients based on your preferences and what you have on hand.

I’ve learned a couple of tricks while making this dish.  First, bake one more potato than you are going to serve.  That way, if one of the potato skins breaks during preparation you have a backup.  Also, I like my filling to mound over the potato skins.  It’s helpful to have the pulp of that extra potato.

Secondly, I’ve seen many a twice-baked recipe that says to peel the top of the potato off and scoop from there.  I don’t do that for two reasons.  It makes the whole process more difficult and time consuming (who needs that?) and my goodness, we’re full already!  Who needs to eat a whole potato with a big meal?  Cutting the potatoes in half works well for me.

Twice-Baked Potatoes

• five large baking potatoes
• 2 T. butter
• 1/2 c. sour cream
• 1/4 c. whipping cream
• 1/3 c. milk (more or less)
• 1 T. dried chives
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced
• 3 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, divided

Scrub and bake the potatoes.  Allow to cool.  Cut potatoes in half and carefully scoop out the pulp.  Discard two of the potato skins.  Add butter, sour cream, and whipping cream to potato.  Mix well.  Slowly add milk while stirring (I use my hand mixer) to get the desired consistency.  Stir in chives (by hand now), green onion, bacon, and 1 cup cheese.  Carefully fill potato skins.  Top with remaining cheese.  Bake for 15 minutes at 350°.

I am constantly trying out new bread and dinner roll recipes, attempting to create the perfect blend of tasty and healthy. These rolls were good, but I’ll wait to share until I find the best!  Also, for the green beans, I don’t use any special seasonings.  I just make them yummy by frying up some diced bacon in a saucepan with some onion, and then dump in the beans to cook with the bacon grease.   Yum!

Ah, now that we’re finished eating how about some cyber shopping?  Laura from Heavenly Homemakers has generously agreed to give one of you a copy of any e-book in her shop.  How about that!  Before you leave, be sure to visit Laura’s shop.  (Did you know there are some FREE books in her shop?!?)  Then let me know in the comments which e-book you’ll choose if you win.  Good luck, and have fun choosing… there are tons of wonderful resources at Heavenly Homemakers!  I want one of each, Laura!  Does my vote count?

If this is your first visit to our Bloggy Progressive Dinner, you have some backtracking to do!  Don’t miss out on drinks at FiveJ’s, appetizers at A Simple Walk, and salads (not your average, ordinary salads people!) at Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles.  All hostesses are offering a giveaway.  Make sure you sign up.

Do some exercising and deep breathing, and maybe even pull out the elastic pants, because tomorrow we’ll finish up with delectable desserts hosted by The Happy Housewife.  See you there!

What are your favorite holiday dishes?  Please link one (or more!) up from your blog or tell us in the comments.  I’m always on the lookout for tasty new recipes.