Recipes with brandy

Kataifi pastries: shredded phyllo rolls stuffed with walnut, almond, and spice filling, baked golden, and drenched in lemon-cinnamon honey syrup. A Greek-Middle Eastern classic.

Braised kosher-cut short ribs with mirepoix, brandy, and beef stock, finished with arrowroot pan sauce and a topping of julienned onion and turnip. Restaurant-style holiday beef.

Classic French steak au poivre with tri-color peppercorn crust, cognac flambe, and rich cream pan sauce. Restaurant-quality pepper steak in under 30 minutes for an elegant dinner.

Kompot w spirytusie, a traditional Polish 12-fruit compote with dried fruits, fresh apples, cranberries, cherries, and brandy. A Christmas Eve dessert simmered with warm spices.

Brown sugar cookie dough with butter, egg yolk, vanilla, and brandy. A versatile piped or spooned wafer cookie base that bakes thin, crispy, and golden in under 10 minutes.

Quick stir-fried shrimp with garlic, ginger, green onion, and a brandy flambe finish. Butterflied shrimp seared over high heat and ready in under 5 minutes.

Boozy homemade eggnog spiked with a full quart of bourbon and two cups of brandy, enriched with vanilla ice cream and folded with whipped egg whites. The big-batch holiday party punch.

Pork Normande for one with tenderloin braised in apple juice, sliced apples, and onion, finished with brandy and yogurt. A classic French single-serving dinner.

Victorian jewels mini fruitcakes: brandy-soaked candied fruit, raisins, and walnuts baked into tender two-bite cakes. A glossy jelly glaze gives each one its jewel-box shine. Holiday gifting star.

Classic red wine sangria with brandy, triple sec, frozen lemonade, orange juice, and ginger ale for fizz. Mix, chill, and serve for an easy party pitcher.

Spanish bean dish with kidney beans, smoky liquid smoke, dry mustard, strong coffee, and a finishing pour of brandy. The vintage retro casserole that builds layered flavor from pantry odds and ends.

Rum butter sauce simmers a glossy syrup of sugar, lemon juice, butter, brandy, and both light and dark rum into a holiday dessert sauce. Pour warm over mince pie, pound cake, or steamed pudding.

Creamy vegan eggnog blended from silken tofu, vanilla soy milk, brandy, and brown sugar with a pinch of turmeric for that classic golden hue. Ten minutes, no cooking, no eggs. Holiday sipping without the dairy.

Lester's fruitcake is a heirloom holiday loaf: pounds of candied fruits, figs, dates, raisins, pecans, and walnuts bound in spiced molasses batter. Slow-baked, brandy-soaked, aged a month.

Homemade Tia Maria coffee liqueur made with brandy, strong coffee, sugar, and a whole vanilla bean. Just four ingredients and 30 days of patience for a rich, smooth sip.

Provencal chicken slow cooker (crock pot): chicken pieces braised with bacon, shallots, tomato, red wine, and Mediterranean herbs. 8 hours on low for a restaurant-worthy French-Italian-Spanish fusion.