Christmas is the feast commemorating the birth of Christ. It is fixed in the liturgical year as December 25th and is preceded by four week of fasting called Advent.Tzimmes
- 1 4 lb. beef brisket
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and chopped coarse
- 2 ribs celery, chopped coarse
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 cups beef stock
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 3 whole cloves
- 1½ inch piece cinnamon stick or ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
- 2½ lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 5 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
- 1 12 oz. box of pitted prunes
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 2 tbsp. distilled white vinegar
Season the brisket lightly with salt and pepper. Place the meat on a rack in a large roasting pan. Brown the beef, fatty side up, in a preheated 475ºF oven for 25 minutes. Remove the meat on the rack and set aside. Add the onions, celery, and parsley to the roasting pan. Place the browned brisket on top of the vegetables, without the roasting rack. Add the beef stock, lemon juice, cloves, and cinnamon stick. Cover the pan with a lid or aluminium foil. Reduce the oven temperature to 300ºF and bake the brisket for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and add the sweet potatoes, carrots, and the prunes. Mix the honey with the vinegar and pour over the meat. Return the pan to the oven and bake, covered, for 1 hour and 15 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice the meat and serve with the vegetables and sauce that has formed in the pan.
