I am not in the business of reviewing TV shows, but just a few words about why you should watch Friday Night Lights (through Netflix, Amazon or Itunes). While there is some football there, at its heart, Friday Night Lights is the portrait of a modern marriage. The show depicts with a lot of heart and honesty the joys and struggles that two people encounter when they share a life together. It helps here that the two actors that play Mr. and Mrs. Coach are so good - they were both very real but also have that special something that make them stars. The supporting characters of the show are also compelling - especially in the first few seasons. My favorite is probably Tim Riggins - he truly embodies the phrase "bad boy with a heart of gold" (does that phrase even exist or did I make it up?) He is a philanderer, a drunk and a drop out, but man is he cute and really sweet underneath. Another great character was Matt Saracen, the nerd who became starting quarterback, who dates Coach's daughter and takes care of his ill grandmother. The show really creates a sense of place. I have never been to small town Texas, but the show creates a 360 degree world - we get to know the town of Dylan from many different perspectives. Final world - the show is also really well written and follows each story through to the end so that you become really sucked in after each episode. I do think the first two seasons are the best, but all five are amazing and I could not stop watching. So sad there are no more episodes for me watch!
Homesick Texans Brisket with Thrown Together Cole-Slaw
This brisket is a BBQ alternative when you don't have a grill or it is winter! I think it is so flavorful on its own topped with pan juices it does not need a BBQ sauce, but some of you may want to top it off with some sauce. I think a sweet sauce rather than a vinegar-ey one would be best.
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Spicy Oven Brisket
Adapted from http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-oven-baked-brisket.html
Ingredients
1 3-4pound untrimmed brisket
2 tablespoons of salt
2 tablespoons of black pepper
2 teaspoons cayenne
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 onion, sliced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/8 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup liquid smoke plus an additional 1/4 cup.
1/4 cup black coffee
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 fresh jalapenos, sliced (seeds and all)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Mix together the salt, pepper, cayenne and garlic. Rub all over the brisket.
- Put the onions, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, coffee, vinegar and 1 chopped jalapeno in a roasting pan.
- Lay the brisket on top skin side up.
- Top with the remaining jalapeno.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake in oven for about 3-4 hours until tender.
- Right at about the 4 hour mark, I raised the oven temp to 350, rubbed the fat side with some brown sugar and cooked the brisket some more uncovered for about 20 minutes. This just added a little sweet and some more color to the spicy brisket.
- Let sit for about 20 minutes then trip the fat on top a bit if you want and slice across the grain
Thrown Together Coleslaw
This recipe is rough since I just improv-ed this coleslaw, it came out well! I do not love a mayo heavy coleslaw, so this goes light on the mayo.
1/2 a (large) green cabbage, thinly sliced
3 large carrots, shredded
1/2 cup shredded red cabbage
4 green onions, white and light green parts, thinly sliced
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon mustard of your choice
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
Directions: Combine all this stuff. Best after the flavors have melded for about an hour.
Looks great, Wendy! And I love Fnl.
ReplyDeleteThat was Lani!!!
ReplyDeleteREALLY NICE BLOG
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