Slow Cooker Chronicles: Southwestern Brisket and '77

I love stumbling across a recipe for my slow cooker/crock pot. And when Smitten Kitchen posted a southwestern pulled beef brisket, I couldn't resist. I had also been waiting for an opportunity to stop in Oliver's Meat and Seafood Market on 6th, and I can't complain about a friendly, jovial butcher who is open at 8 on a Thursday morning. The brisket and Oliver's receive definite seals of approval.

SK's instructions are straight-forward, so I won't bother recapitulating them. Instead, I offer a brief photo journal of the experience from unwrapping to plating. I started the process around 9 and we ate at 7:30. We served the brisket on soft buns with a side of cranberry pecan sweet potatoes. The brisket cooked on low for around ten hours, and pulled apart with ease. The chipotle and molasses layered the beef and sauce with smokey, sweet flavors that merged well with the soft texture of the beef. In other words, it was a winner. I can add the brisket to the pork shoulder recipe as go to crock pot recipes that result in delicious meals. The Talking Heads' '77 played in the background for my soundtrack from the browning until I started the crock pot.

As some of you know, my last experience with the slow cooker was marred by two strong doses of food poisoning. I determined that the pork shoulder was not the culprit, and I didn't have any apprehension of reusing the crock pot. In March, we'll make a chicken tarragon meal and corned beef in the crock pot. Regarding the latter, St. Pat's is one of the few times where I can convince myself to participate in holiday mirth by consuming heaping portions of unhealthy meat.

I decided to strain and reduce the sauce this morning, as per SK's suggestion, while I typed this entry. I will certainly reduce in the future. The volume decreased by half and transformed into a smooth sauce that is neither too syrupy nor watery. She mentioned seasoning the sauce, but I found no need for additions. I can't wait for sandwiches tonight.

Unwrapping the brisket to Weymouth's fat bass of Psycho Killer seemed appropriate

Browning after a generous seasoning of salt and pepper.

Onions, garlic, coriander, cumin, chili pepper sauteing until fragrant.

Molasses, bay leaves, tomatoes, and chipotle peppers en adobo before adding to the mix.

Breaking up the tomatoes by hand. I'm pulled, I'm pulled up.

The brisket with all of the ingredients at the onset of the approximately ten hours in the crock pot.

Final product fresh out of the crock pot.


I posted two photos of the plating as each one showcases the meat in different lights (literally with and without flash) and the sandwiches' composition.

Andy Stern on Obama's Deficit Commission

Andy Stern, President of SEIU, was appointed to Obama's bipartisan deficit commission. Other members include: David Cote, Honeywell International CEO; Alice Rivlin, former Fed Vice Chairman; Ann Fudge former Young & Rubicam Brands CEO. File that under things that surprised me.

Eno & Byrne

Praxis studying is gobbling up my free hours for leisure. Between work and everything else, I don't have a glut of free time for reading or paying attention to the news. I am drawing fuel from one of my favorite song-writing duos. Those two genius weirdos above: David Byrne and Brian Eno.

Meeoooowww

Obama: Let me just make this point. John, because we're not campaigning anymore. The election's over.

McCain: I'm reminded of that every day.

Kings of Kodachrome and the Cincinnati Art Museum

They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers

Oh to be in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Art Museum is hosting Starburst: Color Photography in America, 1970-1980 with works by William Eggleston, Stephen Shore, William Christenberry, Joel Meyerowitz, Joel Sternfeld, Mitch Epstein, Helen Levitt, Jan Groover, and Eve Sonnemann. OK, I copied and pasted those names, most of which I am unfamiliar with and have not viewed their works. If you're like me and you enjoy photorealism and the stunning creative explosion from the 70s-80s (and I'd like to toss Ed Ruscha's work in the 60s in, for good measure), you can explore the gallery of thirty photographs at the Daily Beast's Art Beast article and the accompanying explanation of the artists and their subjects.

TFA & Praxis 0014 - Update 6 and 2/3

This is another installment in my TFA series. As I mentioned in a previous post, when I searched for info regarding TFA, the interview day, and subsequent entry into the program, blogs were a prime source of information for positive and negative insight. I weighed the risk of keeping this blog alive when I'm waiting to interview, and I determined that my missives aren't caustic, defamatory, or radical. In the new year, TFA starts in earnest with the first hurdle of passing the Place and Praxis exams, which are remarkably different tests with more on the latter below. The hiring process commenced at the beginning of February and continues until one secures a position before the beginning of the school year. TFA matches corps members with a hiring consultant--a member of TFA--to smooth the process. It is our obligation to find and apply for jobs once they are listed on district HR pages, which was reinforced during a roughly hour and a half conference call last week. The Denver coordinator also sends e-mails with job openings, and I've applied for one position thanks to her efforts. My concerns don't stem from finding a job at this moment, rather the Praxis occupies my time and anxious center.

To teach Early Childhood Education in Colorado, I am required to sit for the Praxis II Elementary Education Content Knowledge, test 0014. ETS divides the exam into four subjects: language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science. Educators are required to know the four areas even though they might not cover more than one in their classes. Or, in my case, I must pass despite not teaching the Mayflower Compact, factor trees, plate tectonics, or homonyms/phones/grams. There are 120 questions split evenly between the four disciplines on the paper-based exam. Unlike the Place's abundance of time, the Praxis limits text takers to two hours and poses markedly harder questions. In other words, it's a demanding exam and requires the usual standardized test skills remain sharp. Mine are, admittedly, dull. The last time they were deployed was five and a half years ago for the GRE.

I purchased study guides from Research & Education Association, CliffsNotes, as well as ETS's e-book. Each one features a practice exams, and I will purchase a retired exam from ETS. The REA and CN consist of details and diagrams, whereas the ETS offering is vague at points. For instance, ETS suggests learning sonnets, and the CN book describes the quatrain and rhyming sequences of Petrarchan and Shakespearean. I might return the REA test prep as I am uncertain it is too broad without ample focus on the questions I will face.

I feel comfortable with the language arts and social studies sections, and the remaining two represent my bigger challenge. For instance, when was the last time one memorized the breakdown of a cell and what conducts DNA? If you want to quiz me on the origins of the Cold War or Civil Rights, I'm game. Twenty-eight days remain before the Praxis, so I have ample time to study and devise patterns or jar mnemonics loose from the recesses of my brain. I must complete language arts and social studies this week, thus allowing me to devote a week to science and math with a final week for review and practice tests. After that, hiring and prep for institute.

Labor Revolt on Democrats' Hands

Democrats are awakening to the fact that they've let their labor constituents down, notably with the failure to appoint Craig Becker in the Senate. I've stated my opinions that it seems unlikely that the legislative calendar and the political currents allow much room for the Democrats to engineer any feats on behalf of workers and unions. It begs another question, do the Democrats want to open doors for organized labor? A story from the Politico paints a dismal portrait of how union reps are smarting over failures by the Democrat dominated government. Whether in the disappointing impotence in passing a health care bill or Obama's and Duncan's Race to the Top or merit pay that's not appealing to teachers' unions (ie AFT & NEA), labor heavies are voicing their anger. The Democrats are running down an odd path if they want to sustain a coalition that brought electoral victories in 2006 and 2008. A story in the Financial Times pins the blame on the fearsome foursome (Emanuel, Jarrett, Axelrod,Gibbs) surrounding the President and maintaining a permanent campaign atmosphere in the West Wing. The thing about campaigns is that you have to win...at least some, especially for the people who were active members that propelled you to office.

Alexi Giannoulias on EFCA

The winner of the Illinois Democratic Senate Primary, Alexi Giannoulias, participated in an interview with Adam B from the Daily Kos. Of course, Giannoulias backs EFCA. Now that card check is obviously dead, he points to one of EFCA's stronger provisions to protects workers' rights: binding arbitration.

I would like to highlight one measure in the bill that I don’t think gets discussed enough: binding arbitration. Under current law, if a newly formed union does not come to a contractual agreement with an employer within the first year of the union’s existence, employees must hold a second election to keep the union. In that second election, a majority of employees must vote in favor of keeping the union in order for the employees to remain unionized. Binding arbitration would ensure that workers who wish to form a union are able to obtain a contract and that their first vote is honored.

EFCA opponents recognize that as a stalling technique, resisting a contract opens the door for crushing a union with anti-union education seminars, intimidation, bribery, and dismissal or reassignment. I don't know if Giannoulias has a shot in this political climate, especially if Massachusetts elected Scott Brown. Regardless, I'm pleased with his stance on labor and if he can marshal or energize Democratic voters...somehow.

Groundhog Day