Slow-Cooker Brisket Sandwiches

adapted from: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/slow-cooker-brisket-sandwiches-recipe/index.html

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 5-to-6-pound first-cut or flat-cut brisket, cut into 3 pieces

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

4 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled

1 12-ounce bottle stout beer

4 stalks celery, cut into large pieces

2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup tomato paste

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1/3 cup dijon mustard

1/3 cup soy sauce

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon paprika

2 brioche or other rolls, split open and toasted

Coleslaw, for serving

Directions

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the brisket with salt and pepper, then brown on all sides, about 10 minutes, adding the garlic in the last 2 minutes. Transfer the meat and garlic to a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker. Pour the beer into the skillet and simmer 30 seconds, scraping up the browned bits from the pan; add the beer mixture to the slow cooker. Nestle the celery around the meat and add the brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, mustard, soy sauce, bay leaves and paprika. Stir, then cover and cook on low 8 hours or on high 6 hours. Transfer the meat to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes, then thinly slice. Serve on brioche halves with coleslaw; drizzle with the cooking liquid. **I used whole wheat mountain bread and I toasted it in a pan with a little butter. I topped one half of the bread with shredded mozzarella cheese then put the meat and coleslaw on top. I topped it with the other half and flipped the sandwich to toast the other side of the bread.**