Hanukkah and Xmas and stuff

It is holiday time and I just haven't really gotten into it. Sure we are going through the motions but I haven't been feeling my old spunky self. So, this is what I have done so far:

1. Dressed the dog in reindeer ears and put up a tree (as I mentioned before that didn't go as planned)

Our neighbors invited us for a Hanukkah party. They made the party for me me me. Kim had every imaginable Jewish food including gefilte fish and horseradish, borscht, matzoh, smoked salmon, and a brisket and potato pancakes. It was the best Hanukkah party I have ever been to. My "pretend that they are mine" babies were all dressed up and beautiful. There was even a Hanukkah cake with a big ole menorah on it in blue icing. Very cool.

I made the chicken soup and matzoh balls.





So, last night I felt that I needed to make a Hanukkah dinner and we invited other neighbors. I made brisket and potato pancakes. Me being me I forgot to take pictures so I recreated the dinner out of leftovers for a reenactment.



And just because I love you all... You know love you in that "mwah mwah" way here is the recipe for the best brisket ever. It comes from a friend from years passed. It was her aunt Irenes recipe:


Aunt Irene's Brisket

1 4-pound beef brisket
Kosher salt
Pepper
1 onion, thinly sliced into half moons
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup prepared chile sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 12-ounce bottle beer

Salt and pepper both sides of the meat. Place beef in a roasting pan.
Cover with onion. Combine ketchup, chile sauce, brown sugar, garlic,
and beer. Pour mixture over meat. Cover securely with foil. Bake at
300 degrees F for 3 to 4 hours. When the meat is tender, remove foil
and bake uncovered for an additional 35 to 40 minutes. Chill the
brisket separately from the gravy. Puree the gravy while hot.

Happy Hanukkah. I will keep you posted about Xmas.