BBQ Sandwiches!

Lots of you have asked me what was on the menu at my house for the Super Bowl, and I know it is already practically baseball season now, but better late than never.... Like the Saints, I ended up being a big winner on Super Bowl Sunday because my awesome group of family and friends came with just about everything anyone could possibly want in terms of delicious food that could be eaten while shouting at the television screen.

Here's what we had:

BBQ Sandwiches, as seen above. Both the shredded beef brisket bbq and the fantastic sauce was made by my dad, who is a long-time, unswervingly loyal Redskins fan, and my hero. Recipe below -- thanks, Daddy!

Coleslaw, made by yours truly. We like the vinegar-based kind as opposed to the really creamy kind. It's awesome with the BBQ sandwiches. You can even put a spoonful of it ON your bbq sandwich, if you are really wild and crazy.

Monster Cookies, made by my friend L. There almost aren't words to describe the wonder of these. People who don't even like dessert loved these cookies. People who DO like dessert practically rioted over them. I have the recipe in my hot little hands, and these cookies will be getting their own post tomorrow.

Brownies, made by my soul-sister and future in-law A. (We have decided our teenagers will get married one day. The teenagers don't currently see it that way, but they will come to their senses one day). Sadly, you will never ever know how to make these spectacular brownies, because she won't give me her secret recipe, despite all my shameless begging and pleading and weeping. But MAN are they good.

That's some of it...there was more, if you can believe that. But those were the main events, headlined by that awesome barbeque. We kept the meat warm throughout the game in one crockpot set on low, and the sauce in another set on low. My particular method for assembling my sandwich is to grab a big hunk of the shredded pork in tongs, dunk it into the sauce, and nestle the dripping deliciousness right onto my nice soft sandwich roll. But you feel free to be you, in terms of sandwich assembly.

So there you go, Super Bowl course number one. Tune in tomorrow for the Monster Cookies...

SHREDDED BARBECUE BEEF, adapted from the SILVER PALATE NEW BASICS COOKBOOK

1 five pound beef brisket
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
8 sandwich rolls
2 cups BBQ sauce (following recipe)

1. Preheat oven to 325
2. Put brisket in roasting pan and brush with liquid smoke
3. Combine salt and spices and mix well. Rub into brisket.
4. Cover roasting pan and bake until brisket is fork-tender, about 3 1/2 hours
5. Remove from pan and use 2 forks to pull beef apart in the pan juices, shredding coarsely.
6. Serve on rolls with barbecue sauce.

BBQ Sauce

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup malt vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke

1. Heat oil in saucepan and add onion, garlic, cumin and cayenne. Saute for 5 minutes over medium heat.

2. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened, 10 minutes. Makes 2 cups.

Click here for printable recipe