Friday Foodday

Happy Friday lovebugs,
Here are my favorite recipes this week.

Ginger Cranberry Cocktail
c/o Food Network

Ingredients
For Ginger syrup:
4 -inch piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped1/2 cup sugar1 1/2 cups waterPlace all syrup ingredients in a saucepan and simmer until sugar dissolves and the ginger is infused in the syrup, about 20 minutes. Strain and allow to cool fully before use.

For the drink:1 cup frozen cranberries1 lime, juiced2 cups vodka or gin2 cups cranberry juiceSplash club sodaShaved ginger
1 cup ginger syrup, or to taste

Directions

Crush the frozen cranberries in a large glass pitcher. Add the lime juice and their juiced wedges to the pitcher. Pour in the vodka, cranberry juice, and ginger syrup. Put ice in low-ball glasses and fill glasses about 2/3 full. Top off with club soda and garnish with a shaving of fresh ginger.
Note: Can be made without soda for a martini.



Herb and Bacon Corn Bread Stuffing
c/o Epicurious

Ingredients

• 2 loaves Corn Bread
• 6 large celery ribs
• 1 pound onions 
• 1 pound sliced bacon
• 1/2 cup chopped mixed fresh herbs such as thyme, sage, rosemary, and/or marjoram or 2 tablespoons mixed dried herbs, crumbled
• 1 cup Turkey Giblet Stock or chicken broth
• 1/4 cup reserved fat from roast turkey or melted butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 325° F. and butter a 4-quart baking dish.

Cut corn bread into 1/2-inch cubes and dry in 2 large shallow baking pans in oven 20 minutes. Remove corn bread from oven and leave oven at 325° F. Coarsely chop separately celery, onions, and bacon.

In a large, deep skillet sauté bacon over moderately high heat, stirring, until browned, about 10 minutes. Add celery and onions and cook, stirring, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add herbs and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

In a large bowl toss together corn bread and bacon mixture and transfer to baking dish. Stuffing may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and cooled completely before being chilled, covered.

Drizzle stock or broth over stuffing and bake, covered, 1 hour. Drizzle reserved fat or butter over stuffing and bake, uncovered, in upper third of oven 30 minutes more, or until top is golden.

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

c/o Southern Living

Ingredients

1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated piecrusts

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels

1 cup dark corn syrup

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup bourbon or water

4 large eggs

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 teaspoons cornmeal

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Fit piecrust into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate according to package directions; fold edges under, and crimp.

Sprinkle pecans and chocolate evenly onto bottom of piecrust; set aside.

Combine corn syrup and next 3 ingredients in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Whisk together eggs and next 4 ingredients. Gradually whisk about one-fourth hot mixture into egg mixture; add to remaining hot mixture, whisking constantly. Pour filling into prepared piecrust.

Bake at 325° for 55 minutes or until set; cool on wire rack.