Cheryl Beckham

As much as I dislike war and wish we didn’t need the armed forces at all, I realize that we do need to have a strong military to defend our country and to help other deserving nations when they are in trouble.

I don’t know anyone actually in the military, although my cousin’s husband was in the Army for about 10 years. He has been out of the Army for a long time and is working with a Government contractor now as a civilian.

So I don’t know why I like to watch The Unit on TV because I really don’t like war type of shows, but I have to say that the men in that show are the most macho, sexy, capable men I have ever seen and I hope there are hundreds of thousands of little boys who watch this show and realize what wonder role models these men are.

Today I saw cooking tips on a TV show about how to cook a beef brisket. Brisket is a cheap cut of beef that will be dry and tough if you don’t cook it right, so I have always been reluctant to try it. But after watching these tips I have more confidence and i’m going to try it this weekend.

• First, braise the meat and the seasonings on top of the stove to create a seal and keep the juices in while baking.
• Next, do not use a fork to move the meat to the baking pan. Use tongs or a spatula. You don’t want to pierce the meat with a fork as you just sealed it and piercing it will let the juices out, making it dry.
• Put the meat in a baking pan, add one cup of water or stout beer, and cover it with aluminum foil to help keep the juices in.
• Bake it at very low heat, 300 degrees, for 4 hours and do not open the oven door to check on it – leave it closed so the heat in the oven stays even.