Thanksgiving—I wouldn’t change a thing.

On November 14, 2018January 2, 2019 By Leslie Byars RegisterIn appetizers, Ask Leslie, beverages, soups, The Parties5 Comments

“All this talk about food is making me thirsty.”

You may have been anticipating that I would share new, inventive side dishes for your Thanksgiving feast in this post, but I wouldn’t do that to you and your family. Let’s be honest, we all crave what we have grown to expect and love on this food intoxicating holiday. So instead, I’ve decided to share a few “extras” to jazz up your spread, and get you through the busy week ahead.

“As much as I like to try a new recipe, Thanksgiving is not the time to experiment with the family favorites. Change up your menu with a new appetizer or beverage instead.”

Cranberry-Jalapeño Salsa

Makes about 2 ½ cups

12 ounces fresh cranberries

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

2 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus extra for garnish

Juice of 3 limes

½ cup sugar

2 tablespoons honey

Dash of hot sauce

Purple cabbage, for serving

Sweet potato chips

Place cranberries in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse several times until cranberries are evenly and finely chopped, scraping down sides of the bowl once.

In a medium-size bowl, combine chopped cranberries and next 8 ingredients. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours, and up to 2 weeks.

Garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve in purple cabbage (See Learn from Leslie, below) with sweet potato chips.

Cranberries should be in a **Cuisinart** demonstration. They process beautifully! And just think, there’s one less serving bowl to wash at the end of the day!

Learn from Leslie: To serve in a cabbage bowl, carefully remove the outer, dark leaves. With a knife remove a small amount of the bottom of the cabbage so it will sit evenly. Then cut a circle around the top edge, and hollow out a portion to hold the salsa.

Let’s talk about impressive adult beverages…

My new favorite drink with my new favorite toy. Read on to find out more.

Gold Rush Cocktail

Makes 1 drink

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon water

Ice, plus extra for serving

4 tablespoons bourbon

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Stir together honey and water in a microwave-safe dish. Heat for about 10 seconds or until warm. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice; add honey mixture, bourbon, and lemon juice. Shake for about 30 seconds to combine thoroughly. Pour over ice, and garnish with a colorful pansy, if desired.

“Come to think of it, my dad used to give me these exact ingredients as a child to stop coughing in the night.”

Now to hear about my new favorite toy…

I can’t wait to set an entire dinner table with my **Bottle Light Glorifier Glow Wine** **Bottle Stickers, 5 for $11.99, amazon.com** They come is several colors too. These LED stickers are warm white.

Cocktails have never been as much fun as they are when you attach a LED sticker to the bottom. There’s four modes: on, off, slow blinking, and fast blinking! They are spectacular under wine and liquor bottles too. Order yours now for the holidays. Bottle Light Glorifier Glow Wine Bottle Stickers, available at amazon.com

Peel off the protective paper and stick away. The on/off button is on the other side.

Now for a simple supper by the fire…

Unfortunately and fortunately, we will all need to eat between now and Thanksgiving, so here is an economical, satisfying, company-worthy soup to serve on a busy weeknight or any night. Oven-proof bowl by **Earthborn Pottery**, earthbornpottery.net

Easy French Onion Soup

Serves 6

3 large yellow onions

3 sweet onions, such as Vidalia

6 tablespoons butter

4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme

4 bay leaves

1 cup dry white wine

4 cups beef broth

1 (14.5 ounce) carton low sodium chicken broth

1 dash Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

1 baguette

Olive oil

1 (8-ounce) block of Gruyère cheese, grated

With a sharp knife, thinly slice onions. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add onions, fresh thyme, and bay leaves. Stir occasionally until the onions are caramelized and a rich, dark brown color. This process will take about 35 to 40 minutes.

Add wine and next 4 ingredients. Simmer for 45 minutes. Be sure to remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs before serving.

While the soup simmers, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Slice the baguette into ½-inch slices. Brush both sides with olive oil; bake for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove from the oven.

Increase the oven to broil. Spoon soup into oven-proof crock or bowl, place a baguette or two on top of soup, and top with cheese. Broil until cheese is hot and bubbly and begins to brown.

Don’t be afraid to mix antique Ironstone Transferware with an earthy piece of pottery. Pottery by **Earthborn Pottery**, earthbornpottery.net

Easy French Onion Soup

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Ingredients

3 large yellow onions
3 sweet onions, such as Vidalia
6 tablespoons butter
4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme
4 bay leaves
1 cup dry white wine
4 cups beef broth
1 (14.5 ounce) carton low sodium chicken broth
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 baguette
Olive oil

Instructions

With a sharp knife, thinly slice onions. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add onions, fresh thyme, and bay leaves. Stir occasionally until the onions are caramelized and a rich, dark brown color. This process will take about 35 to 40 minutes.
Add wine and next 4 ingredients. Simmer for 45 minutes. Be sure to remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs before serving.
While the soup simmers, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Slice the baguette into ½-inch slices. Brush both sides with olive oil; bake for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove from the oven.
Increase the oven to broil. Spoon soup into oven-proof crock or bowl, place a baguette or two on top of soup, and top with cheese. Broil until cheese is hot and bubbly and begins to brown.

https://dearpartydiary.com/thanksgiving-i-wouldnt-change-a-thing/

Fabulous Beverage Find

Need a quick welcome beverage? Or an alternative to a mimosa? Give this Austrian Beer with fruit soda a try. **Stiegl Radler Grapefruit**, $10.29 for a 4-pack (each can is 1 pint 0.9 ounces) stiegl-shop.at, and available at most grocery stores in the beer section. (Rumor has it this mixes well with vodka!)

My Thanksgiving memories…

My mom (A.K.A. Emily Post) always loved burning candles at our Thanksgiving meal. We would usually eat around 4:30 p.m., when it was “properly” dark enough to light them. This would make for a more relaxing day of cooking too. After a late breakfast, we would sip on mimosas or bloody Marys while finishing the rest of the cooking. I’d play a few hands of gin fireside with my dad between my turns in the kitchen. If time would allow, my sister Beth would organize a Ping-Pong bracket for a little “pre” turkey cardio. It was an awesome day, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Now it’s even better with my girls helping with the cooking, ice water, and place cards, and Jon helping Dad tend the fire while also contributing his famous squash casserole. Too bad it only happens once a year!

I’d love to hear about your Thanksgiving traditions. Tell me all about them in the comments.

Cinco de Derby

On May 2, 2018January 2, 2019 By Leslie Byars RegisterIn appetizers, appetizers, beverages, breads & pastas, brunch, The Parties, The Recipes2 Comments

How can two such festive occasions happen on the same day? What is a girl to do?

This is the first time that I can remember that Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby have fallen on the same day.

“Wow, what a toss-up!”

So let’s celebrate both this week—just because we can.

Oh wait, one quick FUN FACT from my ever-so-smart copy editor, Susan Alison (who makes me look good week after week!):

May 5, 1973- Secretariat won, starting his quest for the Triple Crown!

“And we’re off!”

Traveling always inspires me to try new recipes. While I was in Cabo last week, I ordered a Jalapeño Margarita poolside. It was one of the best margaritas I’ve ever had, so I asked the bartender to walk me through the steps on how he made this delicious creation. So here it goes.

These fresh margaritas get their color strictly from the jalapeño and the lime juice alone. No processed mix here!

Jalapeño Margarita

Makes 2

2/3 cup tequila

½ cup simple syrup

¼ cup Cointreau

1 large jalapeño, seeds removed

Juice from 4 limes

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon hot sauce

Ice

Put first 5 ingredients in a blender. Blend thoroughly, and set aside. In a small, flat bowl stir together chili powder and salt. Place hot sauce in a separate bowl. Dip the rim of each glass in the hot sauce, then salt mixture and fill with ice. Pour margarita mixture over ice. Garnish with a lime slice or jalapeño if desired.

The sweetness of the simple syrup and Cointreau smooth out the acidity of the lime juice. You won’t be able to have just one! Serve with **Crunchy Fried Plantains** and a spicy ranch dressing dipping sauce.

Learn from Leslie: To make simple syrup, “simply” boil equal parts of water and sugar. I like to do 3 cups at a time and keep it ready to go in the refrigerator.

Leslie Byars Register

Yields 2 Margaritas

Jalapeño Margarita

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Ingredients

2/3 cup tequila
½ cup simple syrup
¼ cup Cointreau
1 large jalapeño, seeds removed
Juice from 4 limes
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon hot sauce
Ice

Instructions

Put first 5 ingredients in a blender. Blend thoroughly, and set aside.
In a small, flat bowl stir together chili powder and salt.
Place hot sauce in a separate bowl. Dip the rim of each glass in the hot sauce, then salt mixture and fill with ice.
Pour margarita mixture over ice.
Garnish with a lime slice or jalapeño if desired.

https://dearpartydiary.com/cinco-de-derby/

**A plantain is NOT a green banana.** They should be carefully marked. Ask if you are not sure. I was surprised how inexpensive they are. Each of these plantains was 25 cents!

Crunchy Fried Plantains

Serves 4 to 6 as an appetizer nibble

3 to 4 plantains

48 ounces peanut oil

3 garlic cloves, peeled and halved

Kosher salt

Spicy ranch dressing

With a chef knife remove both ends (about 1 inch) of the plantain. With the tip of the knife make a cut down the entire length of the plantain. Peel and remove skin and discard. Cut plantain in half, then quarter. With cut side down, carefully slice plantain strips as thinly as possible. Repeat with remaining.

Be sure not to crowd the pan. The plantains will get crispier and browner in small batches. They will keep for several hours, so feel free to do them in advance.

In a Dutch oven heat oil and garlic cloves to medium high. Cook plantains in batches until golden brown, stirring frequently to keep them from sticking together. Place on a lightly salted paper towel to drain. Sprinkle with additional salt.

Serve with a spicy ranch dressing for dipping.

The slightly sweet homemade chip goes beautifully with a spicy margarita. It’s a nice alternative to a salty chip.

Now on to the next…

If you haven’t noticed, there is a julep craze going on this year. **Garden and Gun** magazine has asked restaurants to invent their own creation of this classic drink. Well, I don’t own a restaurant, but I was up for the challenge.

Tropical Mint Juleps with Pineapple Cigar

Makes 2

1 pineapple spear from a whole fresh pineapple, plus extra for cigar garnishes

5 fresh mint leaves, plus extra for cigar garnish

3 ounces bourbon

1 tablespoon powdered sugar

½ cup pineapple juice

Wooden picks

In a small pitcher, place pineapple, mint leaves, and bourbon. With a muddler or end of a wooden spoon, break up pineapple spear and crush mint leaves. Add powdered sugar and juice. Combine well. Serve over crushed ice. Garnish with pineapple cigar.

Learn from Leslie: To make garnish, use 2 larger fresh mint leaves to resemble the wrapper on a cigar. Use a long wooden pick to hold them in place.

I’ve always been a fan of rum and pineapple juice. I can’t believe I have never tried it with bourbon. Give it a try!

Mama Lil’s Biscuits

Makes 45 to 50 1-inch biscuits

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons shortening, such as Crisco

½ cup buttermilk, plus extra if needed

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine first 4 ingredients well using the tines of a fork. Add shortening, and combine thoroughly until evenly distributed and crumbly. Add buttermilk, and combine until dough forms. (Add extra buttermilk 1 teaspoon at a time if needed.)

On a floured surface, roll dough out into a rectangle to ½-inch thickness. Cut into 1-inch pieces with a paring knife. Place together on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 5 to 7 minutes until done and lightly browned. Allow to cool.

Biscuits like to touch! By placing them close together you will make them rise more.

This spreadable salad is an ideal accompaniment for these tiny biscuits.

Heavenly Ham Salad

Makes 2 ½ cups

½ pound deli ham (ask the butcher to slice it in 2 to 3 thicker slices)

½ cup chopped celery

¼ cup sweet pickles

½ cup mayonnaise

Coarsely chop the thickly sliced ham before placing it into the food processor. Process the ham alone, and then add the chopped celery and pickles.

Place ham in a food processor, and process until fine. Add celery and pickles; pulse several times until thoroughly combined. Remove mixture from the food processor bowl, and place into a mixing bowl. Add mayonnaise, and combine well. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Leslie Likes: Wickles Pickles and Duke’s Mayonnaise

Filling the Biscuits:

Split the biscuits in half, and fill with about 1 teaspoon of Heavenly Ham Salad. Serve with Tropical Mint Juleps.

For a quick centerpiece, place one pretty bloom in a recycled bourbon bottle.

I would love to hear from you. Don’t be shy about making comments or asking questions. I love getting mail! Leslie

How to Host a Super Bowl Party in 10 Easy Steps

On January 31, 2018January 2, 2019 By Leslie Byars RegisterIn appetizers, beverages, mains, soups, The Parties1 Comment

Step 1.

The number of guests you invite is based on the number of comfortable seats you have in view of a decent-size TV. (Everyone expects at least 40 inches at the bare minimum, so don’t host if you have less than that.)

This cute pillow comes in handy if you get up to get another drink. Available at PotterBarn, PotterBarn.com

Step 2.

This is not a sit-down dinner party. It’s the perfect chance to pull out your slow cooker or Dutch oven and get something simmering. Since the halftime show is the best part, you can’t count on that time to serve dinner. So, it’s best to have something that is self-serve and can be eaten anytime.

Don’t be intimidated by the number of ingredients in this recipe. There is only 1 tablespoon of oil in the entire batch. The extra spices give it a delicious flavor without the extra fat. It’s also packed full of fresh vegetables.

Black Bean Gumbo with Turkey Sausage

served over Simple Saffron Rice

Serves 12 to 14 (Makes 4 1/2 quarts)

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 (10-ounce) packages of turkey smoked sausage, sliced

2 medium onions, chopped

3 celery ribs, chopped

3 carrots, peeled and chopped, reserving 1 for garnish

1 red pepper, diced

1 yellow pepper, diced

2 bunches green onions, chopped reserving 1 for garnish

1 jalapeño, chopped, removing seeds

4 cloves garlic

2 (32-ounce) cartons chicken broth, unsalted

1 pound dried black beans, soaked overnight, rinsed and drained, or 4 (14-ounce) cans, rinsed thoroughly

1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons ground cumin

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Juice of 1 lime

Basmati rice (cooked according to directions)

Saffron threads

Corn tortillas

Chili powder

In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil to medium-high; brown sausage on both sides. Remove to a plate. Set aside.

In the drippings, add next 8 ingredients. Cook until tender. Add broth, beans, and next 7 ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer for 1 ½ hours for dried beans or until beans are tender and 30 to 40 minutes for canned beans. Both delicious!

Serve with saffron-laced, cooked rice and tortilla strips sprinkled with chili powder.

Learn from Leslie: For the crunchy topping, cut the corn tortillas into strips and cook in oil on medium-high in a skillet until golden brown (about 3 to 4 minutes). Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and chili powder.

In a small amount of vegetable oil, it takes minutes to fry up a few corn tortillas for an added crunch topping for the gumbo.

Two of my other favorites to have simmering on the stove for a crowd are Smokin’ Hot Chili (page 92) and Weeknight Gumbo (page 90), both from Leslie’s Party Diaries. lesliespartydiaries.com

Step 3.

Stock up on paper products now—it’s that kind of party. Take advantage of this. No one will notice or care that you are not using china, and cleanup will be a breeze.

Step 4.

Make it interesting. YES, that means gambling! Remind each guest to bring cold, hard cash (go by the bank and get change just in case too). Make a poster with squares for each guest to purchase blocks. (See below how to set it up.) A drawing will be done at the end of each quarter. To keep everyone interested, dole out the cash after each drawing.

Think like you are hosting a garage sale and get change for all bills!

Once all the guests have arrived and all the blocks are filled with names, draw the number positions to go along the top and side of the grid, 0 through 9.

Step 5.

Greet your guests with a welcome beverage. Then have a cooler full of beer with huggers and bottle openers in close proximity.

No blender is needed to make these slushy drinks. The bourbon keeps it from freezing too hard while in the freezer. How easy is that?

Bourbon Slushie

Makes about 4 ½ quarts

4 cups boiling water

3 regular-size tea bags

2 cups bourbon

1 cup sugar

1 (6-ounce) can orange juice concentrate

1 (6-ounce) can lemonade concentrate

6 cups water

Pour boiling water into a gallon container; add tea bags and allow to steep for 30 minutes. Remove tea bags, and discard. Add bourbon and sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add remaining 3 ingredients. Stir until thoroughly combined. Freeze in two, 1-gallon ziplock bags. Before serving, remove from freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Learn from Leslie: I use half of the (12-ounce) orange juice and lemonade concentrates for this recipe. The (6-ounce) size is hard to find. For that reason alone, this recipe can easily be doubled for a large crowd.

Leslie Byars Register

Yields 4 1/2 quarts

Borbon Slushie

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Ingredients

4 cups boiling water
3 regular-size tea bags
2 cups bourbon
1 cup sugar
1 (6-ounce) can orange juice concentrate
1 (6-ounce) can lemonade concentrate
6 cups water

Instructions

Pour boiling water into a gallon container; add tea bags and allow to steep for 30 minutes.
Remove tea bags, and discard.
Add bourbon and sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Add remaining 3 ingredients. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Freeze in two, 1-gallon ziplock bags.
Before serving, remove from freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.

https://dearpartydiary.com/how-to-host-a-super-bowl-party-in-10-easy-steps/

When serving beer, it’s nice to offer a variety of flavors! Stock up on an assortment. Bottles seem nicer too. I’m not sure why, but they do.

Step 6.

Delegate. Delegate. Delegate. Don’t turn down a single offer for a dip or dessert. You are making the main course and cleaning your house. Make it easy on yourself. It’s a Sunday night!

This an ideal dip for one of these mini slow cookers. Tru 0.65-Quart Slow Cooker, $9.99, Bed Bath & Beyond, bedbathbeyond.com

For those of you who didn’t see my Old School post a couple weeks ago, I took a basic cream sauce recipe and used it in three recipes. Here it is again. And who would have thought, queso!

Quick Homemade Queso

Makes about 4 ½ cups

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 cup whole milk

1 ½ cups Monterey Jack cheese, grated

1 ½ cups Chihuahua cheese, grated

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Garnish with sliced jalapeños and sweet mini peppers, optional

Tortilla chips

In a small saucepan, melt butter. Add flour and whisk until combined, about 1 minute. Gradually add milk, and stir until it begins to thicken, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add cheeses, and salt and pepper to taste. Thin with milk if it gets too thick. Garnish if desired. Serve warm with tortilla chips.

Learn from Leslie: Monterey Jack cheese can be substituted if you cannot find Chihuahua cheese.

Step 7.

Spread out the dips. (Non-messy, near the upholstery, and drippy ones, in the kitchen.) Pass dessert bites at the beginning of the 4^th quarter, it will be an activity. The cookies can also be packaged and used as party favors by the front door.

I love the saltiness of the macadamia nuts combined with the white and semi-sweet chocolates.

Double Chocolate-Macadamia Nut Cookies

Makes about 28 (2-inch) cookies

½ cup butter, softened

½ cup shortening

½ cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 (4-ounce) white chocolate baking bar, chopped into chunks

1 (4-ounce) semi-sweet chocolate baking bar, chopped into chunks

1 (6-ounce) package macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped

Leslie Likes: Ghirardelli chocolate bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add egg and vanilla; beat well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, soda, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolates and nuts.

Form dough into 1-inch balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Gently press to flatten slightly. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool slightly before removing them to wire rack to cool completely.

Cookies are an easy dessert for such an event. No plates or utensils needed!

Step 8.

Set up extra TVs around your house if you have any not in use, like a screened porch, deck (weather permitting), bar, etc.

Step 9.

Refrain from playing music. This is the one party where I leave that off—everyone wants to hear the commercials.

Step 10.

Pull out the Barber’s Party Dip with Wavy Lays, because it wouldn’t be the same without it! A match made in Heaven.