Holiday Cookies and Cocktails to See You Through

If you’re not familiar with The Great British Baking Show on Netflix, I will wait for you to log in, binge watch and meet me back here. Go ahead.

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That was great right? Relaxing while somehow still intense, no? It is the perfect show. Friendly competition among supportive, genuinely nice people, interesting challenges, and mountains and mountains of cake. GBBS has been a huge hit in the UK for six seasons, and while we wait patiently for Netflix to add more episodes (hint, hint Netflix), the good people at ABC have decided to give the concept a spin with The Great Holiday Baking Show which just premiered November 30th. Please, please let this be as good spirited as GBBS. Do not let this be another bullet point in the we Americans can’t have nice things list.

In the spirit of sugar and spice and everything nice, and the fact that you need to have cake around if you’re going to watch The Great Holiday Baking Show, I’ve rounded up some treats for you to try. Also alcohol, because holidays. I’ve given them a divorce spin, because I’m me. So swing by Costco or the closest bodega, get several tons of sugar, whip up some treats, invite all your your pals over and pig out.

Credit: Modern Day Moms

Credit: Modern Day Moms

First up, how about some Eat Your Feelings Brownies. These brownies contain oreos and chocolate chip cookies, because if you are going to eat your feelings, you should be efficient.

More into nuts, as in your ex-husband was freaking nuts? Then how about some Passive Aggressive Pecan Sandies? You know who was nuts? The guy who divorced Martha Stewart.

Should you have frozen your eggs and waited for a better fella instead of marrying Mitch? Maybe? Who knows. Contemplate the answer over some Frozen Egg(s)nog.

Craving something sofisticato? How about some Alimony Amaretti? You’re going to want that alimony to pay for the pricey almond paste needed to make these.

Nothing says sweet victory like these Full Custody Custard Tarts. One taste of these babies and you’ll be planning a trip with the kids to their Portuguese birthplace. The kids really should see Europe, especially on your ex’s dime.

Celebrate your settlement with these I Got The Boat Banana Boats. These are great for parties because you can make a little fixings bar and everyone can go to town.

If you’re feeling artsy, flex your creative muscles with some Midlife Crisis Cutout Cookies. Any rollout dough will work, as the focus here is the visual. Freehand your cuts outs. Anything from flashy sports cars to motorcycles to 25-year-old tennis instructors will work. The devil is in the details. You really want to get that tennis instructor’s eyes the right color, so take the extra time to get the royal icing shades just right.

Nothing says the holidays like mulled wine. And nothing says getting over a breakup than being drunk on mulled wine. Make this seasonal Glogg which will make the house smell so good, and get tanked.

Finally, some Finally Home Alone Cookies. These classic Irish treats happen to contain nearly every ingredient of the sundae masterpiece created by Kevin inHome Alone. What’s that? Double pun referencing both the film and the satisfied sentiment of a finalized divorce? That’s right, yahtzee!

Ready, set, BAKE!

Holiday Roasting with Our Favorite Divorced Chefs

The healing properties of cooking cannot be denied. Following a set of instructions and busying your hands is like hitting the reset button on your brain. With Thanksgiving coming up, odds are, you’re going to be in the kitchen in one way or another. Whether it’s slicing radishes for a side salad, or being head chef calling all the turkey shots, let this holiday be the one where you pop on The Big Chill soundtrack, mash the crap out of some potatoes and bliss the hell out. Combining my two favorite things (being encouraged to overeat in America’s honor and divorce), I’ve taken the liberty of rounding up some great Thanksgiving recipes from my favorite divorced chefs.

Alton Brown is divorced. Did you know that? Me neither! Maybe his ex-wife couldn’t stand hearing about yeast budding for one more minute, and hit the bricks. We’ll never know. But what we do know is appetizers are a key component of Thanksgiving. They keep the hanger away and the pre-dinner whining to a minimum. Alton’s mushroom caps look like a great starter, as do these spicy pecans.

ou probably know Bobby Flay is divorced. A couple of times actually. His most recent split from Stephanie March was all over the papers. Perhaps youheard about the airplane that flew over his Walk of Fame ceremony with a banner in tow that read “CHEATER”? It is good not to be Bobby Flay right now. Almost as good as this potato gratin recipe looks. And what’s Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce? This one looks extra decadent.  

Giada De Laurentiis, she of the tiny spoons and over-pronunciation, is also divorced and boy was it a pricey split. Hey, readers, for the millionth time, get a prenup! And make this roasted root salad, it looks delicious.

I’d argue the closest the Food Network ever got to pornography was Down Home With the Neelys. While Gina and Pat Neely could make baked potatoes sensual, they could not make their love last. Gina filed for divorce in 2014. Depressing, I know. Drown your sorrows in this chorizo and collard green stuffing recipe, a perfect addition to your holiday table.

As this is the big show, and we’re not messing around, the turkey recipe will of course be courtesy of Martha. Martha Stewart, la grande dame de entertaining, was divorced in 1990, and while it was not pretty, it was in fact agood thing. Martha’s dedication to building her empire only grew stronger and she launched Martha Stewart Living the following year, and is — hang on let me get my calculator — currently worth a kajillion dollars. There is no one else I would trust with a turkey or gravy for that matter.

Nigella Lawson’s divorce hit the headlines with a fury. Lots of seedy and sad details were spilled but nothing can come between Nigella and her loyal following. Nobody cared about the mud slung at her and her ex-husband came out the big, giant loser. To be the big winner at your holiday, make one of Nigella’s desserts. This pecan pie looks picture perfect and this pumpkin cheesecake looks seriously delicious.

 

HOLIDAY ROASTING WITH OUR FAVORITE DIVORCED CHEFS

James J. Sexton, Esq. | November 18, 2015 | Divorce & SeparationThanksgivingNo Comments

 

The healing properties of cooking cannot be denied. Following a set of instructions and busying your hands is like hitting the reset button on your brain. With Thanksgiving coming up, odds are, you’re going to be in the kitchen in one way or another. Whether it’s slicing radishes for a side salad, or being head chef calling all the turkey shots, let this holiday be the one where you pop on The Big Chill soundtrack, mash the crap out of some potatoes and bliss the hell out. Combining my two favorite things (being encouraged to overeat in America’s honor and divorce), I’ve taken the liberty of rounding up some great Thanksgiving recipes from my favorite divorced chefs.

 

via GIPHY

Alton Brown is divorced. Did you know that? Me neither! Maybe his ex-wife couldn’t stand hearing about yeast budding for one more minute, and hit the bricks. We’ll never know. But what we do know is appetizers are a key component of Thanksgiving. They keep the hanger away and the pre-dinner whining to a minimum. Alton’s mushroom caps look like a great starter, as do these spicy pecans.  

 

via GIPHY

You probably know Bobby Flay is divorced. A couple of times actually. His most recent split from Stephanie March was all over the papers. Perhaps youheard about the airplane that flew over his Walk of Fame ceremony with a banner in tow that read “CHEATER”? It is good not to be Bobby Flay right now. Almost as good as this potato gratin recipe looks. And what’s Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce? This one looks extra decadent.  

 

via GIPHY

Giada De Laurentiis, she of the tiny spoons and over-pronunciation, is also divorced and boy was it a pricey split. Hey, readers, for the millionth time, get a prenup! And make this roasted root salad, it looks delicious.

 

I’d argue the closest the Food Network ever got to pornography was Down Home With the Neelys. While Gina and Pat Neely could make baked potatoes sensual, they could not make their love last. Gina filed for divorce in 2014. Depressing, I know. Drown your sorrows in this chorizo and collard green stuffing recipe, a perfect addition to your holiday table.

 

As this is the big show, and we’re not messing around, the turkey recipe will of course be courtesy of Martha. Martha Stewart, la grande dame de entertaining, was divorced in 1990, and while it was not pretty, it was in fact agood thing. Martha’s dedication to building her empire only grew stronger and she launched Martha Stewart Living the following year, and is — hang on let me get my calculator — currently worth a kajillion dollars. There is no one else I would trust with a turkey or gravy for that matter.

 

via GIPHY

Nigella Lawson’s divorce hit the headlines with a fury. Lots of seedy and sad details were spilled but nothing can come between Nigella and her loyal following. Nobody cared about the mud slung at her and her ex-husband came out the big, giant loser. To be the big winner at your holiday, make one of Nigella’s desserts. This pecan pie looks picture perfect and this pumpkin cheesecake looks seriously delicious.

Just one more even though I know you’re really pooped from all the cooking and family and entertaining and everything. But you know what would be great fuel for Black Friday shopping? Why, Kris Jenner’s pumpkin breadobviously. While Kris isn’t a “chef” per se, she is divorced. And if you make this bread, when you hand it out you can tell everyone it is KRIS JENNER’S PUMPKIN BREAD and I don’t know what would be better than that. There are three cups of sugar in the recipe and it looks terrible,  so bake at your own risk.

So there you have it. An entire holiday catered by divorcées. Quite an interesting theme if you ask me. When you gather your family around the table, feel free to explain the bounty before them is all thanks to cheating, bitterness, strife, nagging, sadness and broken dreams. Then go around the table and make everyone say what they’re thankful for. If they’re having trouble getting started, kick it off with, “Well I’m pretty thankful Denise isn’t here,” and let the gratitude flow from there.