Chocolate-covered strawberries are the perfect romantic treat for Valentine’s Day. They pair well with Champagne and sparkling wine. They look pretty on the plate. However, they are actually inexpensive and easy to make.

When pairing this with champagne, you can’t go wrong. But if you’re looking for a nuanced pairing, keep in mind that you want the Champagne or sparkling wine to be as sweet as the chocolate. “Brut” has the least sugar, which would … Read more

San Francisco was host to the NASFT Winter Fancy Foods Show this past weekend and, wow, what a spread! There was miles of cheese, chocolate, oils, dips, coffee, liqueurs, ice cream, sauces, dips, salts (lots of salts) and a ton of other fancy food products from all over the world.

My favorite Irish Cheddar, spiked with whiskey or ale is pictured below:

This artichoke dip is so good! It’s by no means health food, but it fits right in with any Super Bowl Sunday snack menu. Serve it with tortilla chips, potato chips or a good loaf of crusty bread.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups chopped artichoke hearts (frozen and thawed or from a can, drained)
6 oz. cream cheese
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
… Read more

Whether you’re a Steelers or Cards fan, chili is a tasty way to tame your hunger so you can focus on yelling at the screen and second guessing the coach.

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef
2 16 oz cans kidney beans, drained
2 14 oz cans tomatoes, chopped
1 white onion
1 red bell pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbs chili powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp coarse salt
1 tsp parsley
½ … 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

Liquor and wine are a big part of many holiday dishes. Here are some of the most delicious recipes I could find that get a boost from the bottle and could be a part of your special holiday meal. Enjoy!

Starters

Sweet Potato Bourbon Soup
Drunken Crab Bisque
Roasted Beet and Smoked Sturgeon Salad with Vodka Vinaigrette

Meats

Grilled Molasses and Rum-Glazed Fresh Ham
Red Wine Braised Beef Brisket
Roasted Goose With Apple Rum Stuffing… Read more

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

Alcohol and food are a great combination.

But it can be surprisingly tricky to cook with beer, wine, and liquor. (And no one wants to waste a drop of the good stuff)

Whether you’re looking for a gift or preparing to entertain for the holidays, these cookbooks are good for anyone looking to learn how to cook with booze:

Here’s to Good Food: Cooking With Beer, Wine, Liquor and Liqueurs
Cooking with Booze
Cooking with … Read more