Best Beef Brisket (aka Pot Roast)  

Great for all holidays and every occasion in between!

Ingredients:

• 2 very large cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1 8- to 10-pound brisket

• 1 ½ teaspoons course sea salt

• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 4 pounds onions, halved and sliced

• 3 medium carrots, sliced into ¼-inch thick rounds

• 2 large, outside ribs celery, sliced ¼-inch thick

• 4 small bay leaves

Rub 1 chopped clove of garlic into each side of the meat.

Salt and pepper the meat on both sides.

Spread the onions, carrots and celery on the bottom of the pan. Put the meat
over the vegetables. Put 2 bay leaves under the meat, 2 on top of the meat.

Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and cook in a preheated 350-degree
oven for 4 hours, until meat is just tender.

Let meat rest 20 minutes, then slice: Cut the second cut off of the first cut
and trim off and discard the layer of fat between them. Slice both cuts across
the grain, either straight down or at a slight diagonal angle. Skim any fat off the juices left in the pan, and serve the onions and vegetables with the juices as a sauce for both the meat and any starch accompaniment. If desired, you can
puree some of the vegetables to make a thicker sauce.

If preparing ahead for serving another day, refrigerate until several hours
before serving time. Skim hardened fat off the surface of the liquid that has collected around the meat, and off the surface of the meat. Allow the meat to come to room temperature before final heating.

Serving the Roast:

About an hour before serving, using a long-bladed, preferably serrated knife, slice the meat about 1/4-inch thick. It will require a
sawing motion and a strong arm. Do not disturb the conformation of the meat. Return the meat to the roasting pan as if it was still a whole brisket.

Baste with pan juices and heat, uncovered, for 45 minutes to 1 hour, basting
a few times during that period. The surface of the meat should have browned nicely, and the slices of meat should be heated through and fork tender. Trim excess fat off the meat on the plate, as it is eaten.