Let liquor add a little oomph to some classic Thanksgiving foods …Read More

Make that plain old pumpkin dessert extra-boozy this Thanksgiving …Read More

Some people are really attached to having can-shaped cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving. This year, you can save the canned stuff for the kids’ table. Why not add a little creativity—and booze—to your turkey dinner?

This sauce keeps for several weeks, so it’s an easy thing to make ahead of time. Hit the sauce!

Ingredients:

12 oz fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup vodka
2 tbsp Grand Marnier
1 tbsp orange juice
Orange twist, garnish… Read more

Poached pears are a simple yet elegant dessert to serve at the holidays. This recipe has the colors and flavors of fall, making it perfect for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

4 fresh pears (I used Bosc)
1 cup bourbon
¼ cup cranberries
¼ cup honey
1 cup water
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

Core and peel the pears, leaving the stems on. Combine all other ingredients in a pot and mix, then place pears … Read more

I had so much turkey left over after Thanksgiving that I froze a great deal of it for use in future recipes.

Of all my leftover turkey cooking adventures, this simple recipe is my favorite one so far.

If you managed to escape Thanksgiving and Christmas without mountains of leftover turkey, you can use chicken or vegetables instead.

This is one of those sauces that actually tastes much better after sitting in the fridge overnight.… Read more

Chef Jamie Oliver created this refreshing granita as an easy, light and elegant dessert. Yummy!

Ingredients

1 & 3/4 pints fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, strained

14 oz superfine sugar
7 oz Campari
Juice of 2 lemons
Juice of 2 oranges

Instructions

Whisk together the grapefruit juice and sugar. Add the Campari, lemon and orange juices. Freeze in an ice cream maker, or in a metal container for a granita texture.

Photo & recipe courtesy Campari.… Read more

Looking around for Thanksgiving dessert inspiration, I found some mouth-watering pumpkin desserts that incorporate a wee bit of booze.

Pumpkin pie with brandy
Bourbon pumpkin cheesecake
Pumpkin cake with whiskey whipped cream
Pumpkin rum cake with brown sugar icing
Pumpkin mousse parfaits (pictured)

Photo by azcentral.com.

Making gravy is surprisingly easy. If you’re already making a Thanksgiving turkey, with about 15 minutes extra work you can also have homemade gravy. And like most foods, gravy is even better when you add booze.

Ingredients

4 cups turkey or chicken stock
3 tbs butter (unsalted)
1/3 cup flour
Pan drippings from turkey (pour fat off first)
½ cup bourbon
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook butter in a large saucepan on medium … Read more