Peppermint Tini Cocktail

You will need a martini glass, a shaker, ice and a small peppermint candy cane.
Fill shaker half way with ice
Add 2 shots of your favorite Vodka
1/2 Shot of Peppermint Schnapps Liquor
Shake until well chilled
Pour into martini glass
Garnish with the candy cane

Alternate garnish:
Crush the candy cane
Wet the rim of the martini glass and roll in the crushed candy cane on half of the glass. Then add the mixture. It gives your guests the option of the added sweetness and it looks festive.

Merry Christmas!

Pumpkin Spice Cocktail

You will need martini glasses and a shaker filled with ice. This is really yummy and has a little kick!

1/2 oz. Goldschlager Liquor
1 oz Irish Cream Liquor
1 oz. Kahlua Liquor
1 bag of small red cinnamon candies
Pumpkin Pie Spice

Drop 3 to 4 candies into the bottom of the martini glass
Combine the liquors in the shaker and shake well chilling and combining all the liquors.
Strain the liquid into the martini glass
Sprinkle the top with Pumpkin Pie Spice

Happiness is a great Thanksgiving Cocktail!

Apple and Gruyere Salad with Creamy Vinaigrette

This will make four servings.

1/2 head Romaine lettuce about 3 cups of torn leaves (washed and dried)
2 oz. curly endive about 1 cup of torn leaves (washed and dried)
2 oz. Gruyere cheese 1/2 cup cut into small cubes
1 Apple cut into thin slices
1 Tab. Red wine vinegar
Kosher Salt and Freshly cracked Pepper to taste
1 Tea. Dijon Mustard
3 Tab. Olive Oil
1 Tab. Mayonnaise

Place the lettuce in a large salad bowl
Add cheese and apple to the lettuce

In a small bowl or a dressing shaker add all the remaining ingredients except the mayo and the oil whisk or shake until all the ingredients are well combined and everything has dissolves.
Add the oil and mayo and whisk or shake until it becomes well mixed
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to combine and serve.

Enjoy!

Spicey Turkey Roast

1 Whole boneless Turkey approx. 4 Lbs. thawed
8 large garlic cloves
3 Tab. rosemary
1 Tea. Paprika
1 Tab. freshly Cracked Black Pepper
1 Tea. kosher Salt
2 Tab. Olive Oil
2 to 3 Rosemary sprigs for garnish
1/8 Tea Red Pepper Flakes for garnish optional

Unroll the turkey roll on a cutting board
Combine garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper in a food processor or blender. Turn it on and begin pouring in the olive oil until the mixture is coarsely chopped.
Spread half the garlic mixture over the inside of the turkey roll and then re-roll it.
Tie with butchers string about every three inches so the meat stays int the original rolled shape.
Spread the remaining garlic mixture over the top of the turkey roll.
Place on a rack in a roasting pan
Roast at 350 degrees F for 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours until it has an internal temperature of 170 degrees F
Remove form the oven and let it stand for twenty minutes
Remove the string
Cut into the size slices you prefer and place them onto your serving dish
Garnish with the rosemary sprigs and the red pepper flakes.

Happy Turkey Day!

Sliced Baked Potatoes

4 Medium Baking sized potatoes washed
1 Tea. Kosher Salt
3 Tab. melted Butter
3 Tab. freshly chopped Herbs (Thyme, chives or sage at this time of year I'd chose the sage)
1 Tab. Dried Thyme
2 Tab. Dried Sage (if your fresh herb is sage otherwise use the same as the fresh herb)
4 Tab. grated Cheddar cheese
1 and 1/2 Tab. Parmesan cheese

Cut into the potato making very thin slices but not cutting all the way though the potato
Place the potatoes into a baking dish fanning the slices slightly
Sprinkle with the salt and drizzle with the melted butter.
Then sprinkle all the herbs over the potatoes
Bake at 425 degrees F for about 50 minutes
Remove from the oven and sprinkle the cheese over the top
Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until they are lightly browned and the cheese id completely melted. The potatoes should be soft inside which you can check to see if they are done by using a fork.

Cranberry Jam

I made this last year and it turned out great. I gave it away to friends and neighbors as a little Thanksgiving treat.

1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Cranberry Juice or fresh (I used fresh)
1 12 oz. Pkg. of Frozen Cranberries
1 and 1/2 Tea. Ground Cardamon
1 Star Anise
1 Pinch Kosher Salt

Place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over a high heat stirring constantly bringing it to a boil. Continue to stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Reduce heat to a simmer until the cranberries burst stirring occasionally for about ten minutes. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool.
Pour mixture into a covered container and refrigerate for twenty-four hours.
This will yield three cups and can be easily doubled or tripled.

Enjoy!

Royal Cider Cocktail

This is served in a coffee cup and is great on those cold winter nights.

6 oz of Apple Cider (heated in microwave for one minute)
1 Cinnamon stick
1 large shot of Crown royal

Remove the coffee cup with the heated cider from the microwave
Top with the Crown royal
Add the cinnamon stick

Serve hot sip and snuggle up.

Enjoy!