Olive oil marinated mushrooms simmer button mushrooms in herbed wine vinegar with thyme, garlic, and brandy. A make-ahead antipasto that gets better after a night in the fridge.
Chicken and cherries jubilee braises whole chickens in cherry juice and chili sauce for 6 to 8 hours, finished with a sherry-brandy flambé cherry sauce. Retro slow-cooker showstopper.
Penette in padella toasts dry pasta in olive oil, flambes with brandy, then cooks risotto-style in vegetable stock with dried mushroom cream. A one-pan Italian technique that builds deep, nutty pasta flavor.
Creamy carrot-orange soup pureed with fresh orange juice, tomato paste, honey, and rice for body, topped with toasted cashews. A velvety blended soup with bright citrus flavor.
Cafe Brulot, the classic New Orleans flambeed coffee with brandy, orange liqueur, cinnamon, cloves, and citrus. A dramatic Cajun after-dinner drink served in demitasse cups.
Brandied cheddar spread blends sharp aged cheddar with brandy, butter, and cream for a smooth, boozy cocktail spread. Hints of nutmeg and cayenne add warmth. Makes about two cups for crackers.
Flambeed peaches in a port wine and cherry jelly sauce with cinnamon and lime, spooned over lemon ice cream. A dramatic tableside dessert that goes from chafing dish to plate in 20 minutes.
Eggnog snickerdoodles rolled in nutmeg sugar, flavored with brandy and rum extracts. A holiday twist on the classic crinkled cookie with warm eggnog spice in every bite.
Poached eggs over warm buttered crab meat, smothered in a silky brandy cream sauce. A rich New Orleans-style brunch dish that feels straight out of the French Quarter.
Italian tiramisu made with Pan di Spagna sponge cake, mascarpone zabaglione, espresso-brandy soak and whipped cream. Classic restaurant-style layered dessert.
Pumpkin ginger pie with crystallized ginger, brandy, bourbon, brown sugar, and warm spices in a flaky shell. A boozy, spicy twist on classic pumpkin pie topped with sweetened sour cream.
Classic French coq au vin: chicken browned in butter, then simmered with red wine, brandy, pearl onions, and mushrooms. A rustic red wine chicken braise streamlined for the microwave.
Pate in crust (pate en croute), layered ground pork, brandy-marinated chicken and sliced ham wrapped in a buttery pastry crust and baked. Classic French charcuterie for dinner parties, picnics and cheese boards.
Classic English trifle with raspberry-jam-soaked sponge cake, brandy, sherry, silky vanilla custard, and whipped cream. A showstopping layered dessert served in a glass bowl for maximum visual drama.
The classic Sidecar cocktail: brandy, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice shaken and strained into a chilled glass with a lemon twist. A bright, balanced brandy sour that's been a cocktail-hour staple since the 1920s.
Homemade vanilla bean extract with just two ingredients: chopped vanilla beans steeped in brandy for two weeks. Richer than store-bought and endlessly refillable.