Other than turkey, nothing says Thanksgiving more than a bottle of full of bourbon in my family. We’ll have that sucker drained in no time — no so much taking shots (okay, maybe a couple), but rather as a spirited ingredient in my holiday menu.
Watch this video of Rick Rodgers, chef and author of The Big Book of Sides, make Bacon, Onion and Bourbon Marmalade –it’s fantastic and versatile enough to spread it on a biscuit or dress a bowl full of warm green beans. Oh, and I’m hosting a giveaway for a copy of The Big Book of Sides, so enter at the bottom of this post.
Based on Rick’s recipe for Pomegranate Glazed Carrots (p. 148 of The Big Book of Sides) and my new found bottle of Four Roses Bourbon, I was inspired to create my own side dish recipe — Apple Cider Bourbon Glazed Carrots. These carrots are so delicious and make a perfect pairing with your roast turkey or even a juicy steak – and because I’m using coconut (palm) sugar, they are even Paleo-diet friendly. 
Bourbon Apple Cider Glazed Carrots Recipe
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound carrots, scrubbed and green tops removed
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 ounce bourbon
- 1 tablespoon coconut (palm) sugar
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- Melt butter in medium skillet over medium heat. Add carrots in single layer and pour in apple cider and bourbon. Sprinkle tops with brown sugar and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring sauce to boil over high heat, occasionally stirring to dissolve coconut sugar.
- Cover and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 6 to 8 minutes to soften remove lid and bring heat up to high. Boil until sauce has reduced to a glaze, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Transfer to serving platter, sprinkle with pecans, and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serves 4.
So, if you’ve ever struggled with side dish ideas and are tired of the same old mashed potatoes or plain buttered peas, The Big Book of Sides has more than 450 recipes that will add pizzazz and razzamatazz to your holiday plate. Some of the side dish recipes that spoke to me were Chard Puttanesca; Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes; Farro, Cherry and Feta Salad; and Chipotle Corn Pudding. Enter below for a chance to win a copy of this must-have manual for the home cook – if you can’t wait to win, you can pick up a copy on Amazon.
This post and giveaway is sponsored. I received product and other compensation in exchange for my time; all opinions, editorial comments, content and photographs are my own, unless otherwise noted.
IM SO BORING.
roasted veggie anything
Oh yeah, your sooooooo boring 😉
This looks unbelievable. I love combining bourbon and cider!!
Thumbs up for combining bourbon and cider — errr, for recipes 😉
NEED this book! If there’s one area where I struggle, it’s with new and different sides. My go-to is a roasted butternut squash dish w/ raw coco nibs.
butternut squah with cacao nibs — YOU should write a book!
We love Four Roses! My husband is a bourbon connoseuir, so we always try new small batch bourbons. This carrot recipe sounds delicious and I have everything in my house to try it! Yay!
A bourbon connoisseur – wow! I just throw it down the hatch and scream! But, I do like the way it tastes in recipes 🙂
One of my faves is roasterd brussel spouts with EVOO, basil and pepper!
This sounds amazing! I always liked cinnamon roasted carrots but the addition of whisky and apple cider take this recipe to the next level!
I am hosting a new linkup today – Tried it Tuesday – for people to linkup something new they have tried recently. You using bourbon in your recipe would fit perfectly. If you would like to see what other people are trying and linkup yourself you can do so here:
http://www.lakeshorerunner.com/2014/11/18/first-tried-tuesday-core-fusion-express-exhale-spa/
Happy Tuesday!
thanks for the invite, I’ll check it out . . . although tuesday is almost over!
I like mashed cauliflower with sour cream, bacon, and cheese.
I love veggies!
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My go-to side dish is a roasted vegetable of some sort – brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots, green beans – just about any veggie is great roasted.
Roasted potatoes. I’m boring too, that is why the cookbook would be great!
Ooh, I need this book in my life! Hope I win!
I usually go for roasted veggies. Red potatoes and carrots are my favorite.
I make cheesy potatoes
I so need this book. I tend to fall into using frozen peas or broccoli as a side for everything!
Mashed potaotes, or home rice a roni
My go to side is either mashed cauliflower/potatoes or roasted veggies.
I usually fall back to corn or mashed potatoes
I desperately need this book. My go to sides are anything potato, mashed, baked, fries, and any other potato. I need to expand and I have no idea where to begin. Thank you for this awesome giveaway!! This cookbook looks amazing!!
Mac and cheese
I love sweet potatoes & butter!
My go-to side is Italian Spinach!
I love salsa and guacamole. I eat it at least once a week.
Tweeted and following.
One of my favorites is fresh mushrooms sautéed in onions and butter. The other is a mix of broccoli and cauliflower with a hint of cheese. Thank you for the great giveaway…
I always do an easy roasted veggie (brussel sprouts are my latest fave) but I usually do something more complicated as well, like hasselback potatoes or a roasted beet salad.
I’m a roasted potato gal. 🙂
Cheesy party potatoes
My go-to side dish is roasted vegetables. I even enjoy them cold, the next morning.
My go to side dish is always shells and cheese. Everyone in the family loves it. It’s a fail safe dish. I like to add bacon, or ranch seasoning to mine. It helps keep the dish from getting old and repetitive.
The go to side dish in our home is probably rice… like fried rice. More ideas are always welcome!
My go to side dish is usually broccoli and cheese.
My go-to side dish has always been yummy homemade mashed potatoes. So good!
Usually mashed potatoes
Green beans with garlic and bacon or maple glazed carrots
mashed potatoes
My go to side dish is Creamed Spinach
My go to side is mashed potatoes.
My sides tend to be lazy and/or a bit dull….like plain rice or potatoes. This looks like an awesome cookbook full of yummy recipes.
I love sides! They are my favorite…even for Thanksgiving :/ My go-to side dish is mashed potatoes with a little bit of ranch dressing mixed in. Hey, I’m from the midwest. That’s how we do things! 🙂 Thanks for the contest!!
Steamed veggies or some type of rice…
pasta anything
My go-to side dishes are mostly salad or baked potatoes… Or some type of rice dish (rice & tomatoes is my favorite) Although any fresh vegetable is likely to make it to my table 🙂
My go-to side dish is always cheesy potatoes!
Mine is mac and cheese!
honey glazed carrots!
I love spanish rice with seafood