The many lives of our Christmas brisket

Note: We bought our brisket at Le Biftheque in Montreal's West Island. I highly recommend stopping by there if you're looking for large cuts of meat!

You guys, I have seen the light. I had my first slow-cooked beef brisket and I am addicted!! It's amazing to see this rather tough piece of meat transform into melt-in-your-mouth goodness. As I mentioned in this post, I decided to try this recipe for a Holiday brisket when we hosted our family for a Christmas Eve dinner. I wanted something non-traditional that could be prepared ahead of time. The great thing about this particular recipe is that it actually tastes better if you prepare it a day or two before and it's best when simmered in a slow-cooker. It truly is the best dish for large groups. It was sweet, tangy, savory and absolutely tender - a major hit with our guests.

{image via Smitten Kitchen}

We kept the leftovers in the fridge and I started to daydream about what I would do with them. The first dish I made was a brisket grilled cheese. I shredded the brisket meat with a fork and slowly warmed it with some honey and balsamic vinegar. I sandwiched it between some crusty bread dressed with balsamic reduction, baby arugula and old cheddar. I then pressed it between a heavy cast iron grill pan until the cheese was melted. It was...it was...there are no words. Just divine.

I actually still had some brisket left on the 27th and this time we opted to finish it off with an epic brunch. We roasted some potatoes with garlic and grainy dijon mustard. The brisket meat was shredded on top and topped with fresh tomatoes and a fried egg. I should point out that this was prepared the morning after Montreal's insane snowfall (40+ cm in 24 hours!!) and this hearty meal was just what the doctor ordered. The brisket was at its peak nearly 4 days after I first popped it into the old crock pot. Yum yum yum.

Now I am brisket-less and it saddens me. I am just itching for another opportunity to make this again.