Perk up your Pesach!

With the plethora of prepared products for Pesach one can
almost make the same dishes as you would cook for a festive dinner year round.
However, if your family does not use many purchased products coming up with
tasty dishes requires a bit more ingenuity and creativity. Here at The
Peppermill we aim to do just that! Spice up your fare with some of our
delightful recipes below.

Savory Brisket

4-5 pound brisket

20 cloves garlic, optional

1/2 cup sugar

1 quart chicken stock (set some aside when you make your
large pot of soup—it comes in handy in many recipes)

3 large onions, sliced

3 tablespoons olive or cottonseed oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.

Using a paring knife, cut small slits in the brisket.
Stuff brisket all over with garlic, if using. Rub sugar on both sides of the
brisket. Place brisket in a baking pan or casserole and bake until browned on
top, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven, turn brisket and return to oven until
browned on both sides.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Add enough chicken
stock to the pan to come up 1 inch on sides, cover with foil and bake one hour.

While brisket is cooking, heat a large skillet over
medium high heat and sauté onions in oil, stirring occasionally, until
caramelized and most liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes. Set aside.

Remove brisket from oven after one hour and add
caramelized onions. Season meat generously with salt and pepper. Cover and
continue to bake until very tender but not falling apart, another hour. Remove
from oven and cool.

Place brisket on a carving board and slice. Strain
reserved cooking liquids and pour over sliced meat.

Brisket is better if made a day in advance so return it
to the pan, refrigerate and reheat before serving.

Chicken in Orange Sauce

1 whole chicken

1 orange, peeled

3 whole garlic cloves, optional

1 cinnamon stick

2 tablespoons olive oil or cottonseed oil

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

For the sauce:

3 tablespoons orange juice

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

2 teaspoons potato starch

Orange slices for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Rinse and pat chicken dry inside and out.  Place orange, garlic cloves (if using) and
cinnamon stick inside the cavity of the duck. Tie legs and wings for nice
presentation. Place breast-side down in a 9”x13” roasting pan. If you use a
disposable pan, double it for stability as the chicken will release liquid and
it will be difficult to remove it safely from the oven. Rub chicken with oil
and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast chicken 45 minutes and remove from oven.  Turn chicken over using two wooden spoons or
spatulas. Return to oven and roast 45 minutes longer.

In medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, cook the
orange juice, broth, pepper and ginger for about 15-20 minutes. Whisk in the potato
starch until smooth. Continue cooking until the gravy thickens and begins to
bubble.

Place the whole chicken on a platter remove the orange,
garlic and cinnamon stick from the cavity. 
Pour the sauce over all. Garnish with the orange slices. Serve
immediately

Roast Veal with Wine Sauce

3-4 pound boneless veal roast

½ cup olive oil, divided

2 to 3 onions, sliced
4 to 5 carrots sliced
1 small knob celery, peeled and cubed

1 tablespoon coarse salt

½ teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoon sweet red wine
1 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon potato starch

In a large frying pan, heat 3 tablespoons oil. Sear  veal roast, turning to brown each side. Remove
veal from pan and place in a roasting pan. 
Add 3 tablespoons oil, vegetables and seasonings. Sauté vegetables until
lightly browned.  Add 1/3 cup wine. Boil 5
minutes or until cooked down and concentrated. Add to veal, cover pan and roast
in a 325 degree oven for 2 hours.

Remove veal from oven, remove from pan  and allow to rest 20 minutes.  Mash vegetables well. Add 1 cup stock and 1
tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 remaining tablespoons wine. Whisk into
vegetables in the pan. Slice veal into quarter-inch
slices and serve with warm sauce.