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Christmas 2025 Thursday, December 25, 2025, 05:20 PM

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• Sous-Vide Brisket (see below)
  • With brisket gravy
• Dressing / Stuffing (see below)
• Omi's Haricots Verts Salad [Gaby Dalkin] (with normal changes noted on the recipe)
  • And some plain
• Mashed potatoes (Costco)
• Bread (supermarket)

We didn't have dessert today but will make thing in the coming days

Dressing

I did the normal Grandma Huffsmith's Dressing (stuffing), with Ann's Changes, and Cornbread using boxed cornbread and the noted stuffing mix. The only real note is that I took it out a bit sooner than usual since it felt a tad dry already. I also didn't try to stuff (no pun intended) it all in the pan and just left some out. I may use that to make waffles in the future since it is less cooked through. Everything is still fully cooked. I also doubled or more the garlic at each step.

Brisket

I did my normal sous vide brisket except it was just the flat. And since it was just the flat, I cut it normally in half (against the grain) rather
than how I usually do it long-ways.

I cooked it at 155°F for about 72 hours.

It was a "choice" brisket but I think it still came out good enough. You could tell that it was fairly lean by how little fat was in the sous vide juices.

I would do this again! It was so, so, so much easier to prep and trim with barely any trimming needed. And it made a much more reasonable amount. The only time I would do a full packer brisket is if I am cooking for a party. And even then, I'd consider extra of the flat. Even though it isn't as flavorful, it is the part I prefer eating and I ended up with so much less fat.

Brisket Gravy

Assisted by ChatGPT, I made the a gravy out of the remaining liquid. It was not very fatty, otherwise I would have tried to cool and skim it.

Here are the steps

1. In a saucepan, melt 2.5 Tbsp butter or brisket fat over medium.
2. Whisk in 2.5 Tbsp flour; cook 1–2 minutes (blonde).
3. Slowly whisk in 2 cups warm brisket juice.
4. Simmer until thickened, 3–5 minutes.
5. Off the heat, add and stir ~1 tbsp butter.

ChatGPT said to first simmer for 5-10 minutes to reduce. I forgot to do that and hence, used 2.5 Tbsp butter/flour to 2 cups liquid.

It was really good though also salty. But it worked well on top of the dressing/stuffing and potatoes.