Braised Beef Brisket

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350º F.
2. Dice onion, celery,carrot and parsley.
3. Trim fat from beef brisket and sprinkle with black pepper.
4. Using a heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat and brown meat 5 minutes on each side.
5. Remove meat and add onion, celery and carrots. Cook and stir 4 minutes to deglaze the pot.
6. Add crumbled bay leaves and parsley to vegetable mixture, and place meat on top of vegetables.
7. Pour broth, water and balsamic vinegar over meat to cover and heat until liquid boils.
8. Cover pot and cook in the oven for 1-1/2 hours.  Turn meat over and cook an additional 1-1/2 hours until meat is tender enough to cut with a fork.
9. Remove meat from pot.  Add one cup water to pan juices and stir.  Strain liquid from solids.  Discard vegetables and reserve broth for gravy (see recipe in "Sauces & Seasonings" section).
10. Slice brisket, top with gravy and serve.