Hard Cider Gravy
Gravy is a starring staple at Thanksgiving and, for many, crowns everything from slices of turkey to mashed potatoes to vegetables. This recipe can be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to use. For best results, use Strongbow Original Dry Cider in this gravy.Ingredients
Serves 6
½ cup + 2 tbsp (155 ml) unsalted butter, divided
¾ cup (180 ml) all-purpose flour
1 medium onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1 large Gala apple, cored and chopped
2 cups (500 ml) Strongbow Original Dry Cider
7 cups (1.75 L) homemade turkey stock or low-sodium chicken stock
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a small frying pan over medium-high heat, melt ½ cup (125 ml) butter. Sprinkle flour over melted butter and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is golden and smells nutty, 2 to 4 minutes. This is called a roux. Transfer roux to a heatproof bowl and set aside. Roux will darken as it sits.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat remaining 2 tbsp (30 ml) butter. Add onions, garlic and apples, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until onions are deep golden brown and caramelized, 18 to 20 minutes. Stir in cider, bring to a simmer and let cook until liquid volume has reduced by about half, about 4 minutes. Stir in stock, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain infused stock through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible before discarding solids.
- Return strained stock to saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add roux in 4 additions, whisking constantly after each addition and making sure roux is incorporated before adding next amount. Whisk gravy constantly until thick and smooth, about 5 minutes. Gravy should be consistency of heavy cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to a gravy boat or bowl and serve while warm. Can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Warm gently over low heat before serving, whisking in a bit more cider or stock to thin if needed.
Drink Pairings
Okanagan Peach Bourbon Upside-Down Barbecue Cake
While grilling this season, why not try baking on the barbecue? This cake is cooked on the grill in a cast iron skillet. If you would rather bake inside, simply cook the caramel on the stovetop over medium heat and bake the cake in a 350 F (175 C) oven for 35 to 40 minutes. This cake is also delicious using nectarines or plums in place of peaches. Pair this recipe with No Boats on Sunday BC Cider.Ingredients
Serves 8 to 10
¾ cup (180 ml) unsalted butter, divided
⅓ cup (80 ml) lightly packed light brown sugar
3 tbsp (45 ml) Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
½ cup + 2 tbsp (155 ml) granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon
½ tsp (2.5 ml) kosher salt
¼ cup (60 ml) finely ground pecans
1½ cups (375 ml) all-purpose flour
½ tsp (2.5 ml) baking powder
3 to 4 peaches, pitted and sliced into thin half-moons
Instructions
- With lid closed, preheat 1 side of barbecue grill so temperature registers 350 F (175 C).
- Place an 8- or 9-in (20 or 23 cm) cast iron skillet over flame. Add ¼ cup (60 ml) butter, brown sugar and bourbon and stir with a wooden spoon until butter has melted and mixture is bubbling, about 4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and set aside while making cake batter.
- In a medium saucepan, melt remaining
- ½ cup (125 ml) butter over grill. Remove and stir in granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and ground pecans until well combined. Sift flour and baking powder overtop, then fold in with a rubber spatula until just combined.
- Artfully arrange peach slices over caramel in skillet, starting from centre and layering peaches in a spiral, making sure to fill in any gaps. Spoon batter over peaches and spread out evenly with a rubber spatula or back of a spoon.
- With barbecue still at 350 F (175 C), place skillet on grill over indirect heat (away from ignited burner), close lid and bake cake for 40 to 50 minutes, rotating skillet halfway through cooking time. Cake should look golden and a wooden skewer inserted in centre should come out clean.
- Remove skillet from grill, place on a rack and cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of skillet to loosen cake before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Drink Pairings
Spinach Feta Rolls
These soft rolls are lined with a savoury spinach, dill, green onion and feta filling. If you crossed a spinach pie with a cinnamon roll, you'd get these! These are a perfect bun to start your morning if you don’t want something sweet. Easy to whip up the night before to have them ready for New Years brunch. Try pairing this recipe with Four Winds Featherweight IPA or Motts Clamato Caesar OriginalIngredients
Serves 12
2 cups (500 ml) whole milk, warmed
1 tbsp (15 ml) granulated sugar
2 × ¼ oz (7 g) envelopes instant yeast
½ cup (125 ml) unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs, divided
6 cups (1.5 L) all-purpose flour, plus more for shaping
3 tsp (15 ml) kosher salt, divided
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup (125 ml) finely chopped fresh dill
1 lb (450 g) frozen spinach, thawed, drained and excess water squeezed out
1 lemon, zest only
¼ tsp (1 ml) freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp (2.5 ml) dried oregano
2 tbsp (30 ml) sour cream
12 oz (340 g) cubed feta
1 egg yolk
2 tbsp (30 ml) whipping cream
Instructions
- In bowl of a stand mixer, combine milk, sugar and yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes, or until yeast has dissolved and is bubbly.
- Add butter, 1 egg, flour and 1 tsp (5 ml) salt. Mix with a dough hook until smooth and elastic, 3 to 5 minutes. If you do not have a mixer, mix and knead by hand for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer dough to a clean bowl and cover with a damp tea towel. Let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour, or place in refrigerator and let rise overnight.
- While dough is rising, make filling. In a small frying pan over medium heat, sweat green onions and garlic in olive oil. Transfer to a medium mixing bowl. Add dill, spinach, remaining 2 tsp (10 ml) salt, lemon zest, pepper, oregano, sour cream, remaining egg and feta and mix well. Check seasoning and adjust, then set aside.
- Once dough has risen, roll out to an 11 × 18-in (28 × 45 cm) rectangle.
- Spread spinach mixture evenly on dough. Tightly roll into an 18-in (45 cm) log. Place log on a baking sheet and set in freezer for about 10 minutes to slightly chill dough and make it easier to handle.
- Meanwhile, line a large baking sheet with parchment.
- Remove log from freezer and lay on a cutting board. Cut into 12 even slices. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise for 1 to 1½ hours, or until doubled in size. If making ahead, add cut slices to baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator overnight. When ready to bake, take out while oven preheats.
- Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C) and set oven rack to centre position.
- Once rolls have risen, mix egg yolk and whipping cream and brush onto rolls. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown.
Drink Pairings
YULE PUNCH
Ingredients
Serves 1.5 L
6 cups (1.5 L) lemon tea, recipe follows
2 tsp (10 ml) citric acid
3/4 cup (175 ml) sugar
1 bottle (750 ml) Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Gin
3 cans (1419 ml) Lonetree Rosé Apple Cider
2 cups (500 ml) cranberry juice
fresh cranberries and green apple cubes, for garnish
Instructions
- Pour 6 cups (1.5 L) of boiling water over 12 lemon/hibiscus herbal tea sachets and steep for 5 to 6 minutes. After steeping, while liquid is still hot, add citric acid and sugar. Chill until ready to assemble punch. To assemble, in a punch bowl, combine tea mix with gin, rosé cider and cranberry juice. Garnish with fresh cranberries and cubes of green apple. Serve in a rocks or punch glass.
Featuring
APPLE BUTTER GENES
Ingredients
Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Père Magloire Calvados
½ oz (15 ml) Berentzen Apple Liqueur
¾ oz (22 ml) apple juice
½ oz (15 ml) lemon juice
½ oz (15 ml) Simple Syrup
2 tsp (10 ml) apple butter
1½ oz (45 ml) Lonetree Cider
fresh nutmeg, for garnish
dried apple pieces, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients, except the Lonetree, in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well. Strain over fresh ice into a Collins glass and top with cider. Garnish with fresh nutmeg and dried apple slices
- To make SIMPLE SYRUP: Combine equal parts sugar and water.
Featuring
FIELD CIDER
Ingredients
Serves 1
¾ oz (22 ml) Hennessy VS cognac
1 oz (30 ml) Giffard Ginger of the Indies
¼ oz (7 ml) lemon juice
1 oz (30 ml) Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cider, to top
1 cinnamon stick and slices of lemon, for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, stir Hennessy, Giffard Ginger liqueur and lemon juice with ice to chill. Strain into a large beer glass and top with the Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cider. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.