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

Ingredients

1 large pasilla negro chile, stemmed, seeded, deveined
1 1/3 cups half-and-half
2 ounces Mexican chocolate, chopped into small pieces
3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into ¼-inch pieces
4 egg yolks
½ cup sugar
1 1/3 cups heavy (whipping) cream
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla, preferably Mexican
¼ cup Bohemia beer

Instructions

In a small skillet heated over medium, toast the chile, pressing it flat against the skillet with a metal spatula until it … Read more

You can’t go wrong with beer and brats. Another way to enjoy this dynamic duo is to make a stew. It includes vegetables, so let’s call it healthy. You can try this same recipe with steak instead of brats; it tastes just as great.

Ingredients

1 lb bratwurst
5 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces
1 cup chopped savoy cabbage
1 lb sliced white mushrooms
1 onion
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 stalk … Read more

This appetizer will lend an air of sophistication to your cocktail party, even though it is super easy to make. Anything with this many foreign words in it has to be good, right?

I was inspired to create this recipe because I had a little bit of leftover champagne that was about to go flat. But you could easily use a dry white wine instead if you didn’t have any bubbly on hand.

For mushrooms, … Read more

Everything’s better with a little booze. So here are some Drink of the Week-approved ideas for Thanksgiving recipes that incorporate the bottle.

Bourbon Turkey with herbs de provence
Whiskey-Glazed Carrots
Orange Liqueur Stuffing
Drunken Cranberry Sauce
Rum Raisin Sweet Potato Pie
Frangelico Pumpkin Cheesecake

Jack Daniel’s is now serving up some meat to go with that shot of whiskey.

Ready-made meals like baby back ribs, barbecue pulled pork and pork loin featuring Jack Daniel’s No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey are making their way to a grocery store near you.

The company has been making marinades, sauces and mustards for a while, so prepared food was the next move.

Sounds good. Ribs, anyone?

Via Louisville Business Journal

Since the weather is heating up, it’s time to do some cooking outdoors! Beer Can Chicken is an easy way to cook a whole chicken on the grill while keeping it moist and flavorful.

Before getting started, make sure that your grill can accommodate the chicken — since the chicken will have to cook while it is upright and the lid will have to be closed. You can always use a smaller/larger bird, depending on … Read more

This boozy brownie recipe mixes a creamy chocolatey topping with the bite of whiskey for a dessert that I just can’t stop eating!

You can, of course, make it without the whiskey — but why would you want to?

Whiskey Brownies
Ingredients

¾ cup flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
2 tbs. water
2 eggs
1 (6 oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup … Read more

CMSC Spirits is releasing a new spirit in May — Love Potion #9. They sent over a little sample, which inspired me to create a new dessert. The tropical-fruit-flavored liqueur is made with sugar cane alcohol (instead of grain alcohol), which made me think strawberry tart!

It’s a light and refreshing dessert, with the mascarpone adding creaminess without turning the dish into something heavy or sticky-sweet. Oh, and it’s super easy!

Ingredients

8 oz mascarpone … Read more

Even though St. Patrick’s Day is over, it’s time again to whip out the Guinness, Baileys and Jameson’s whiskey and turn them into delicious cupcakes!

The Irish Car Bomb is a well-known (although not very tactfully named) drink consisting of a layered shot of Jameson’s and Bailey’s dropped in a ¾ full glass of Guinness and chugged like crazy. (Don’t let it sit; curdled Bailey’s in your beer is not an appetizing sight.)

Well, here … Read more