Ginger Binge

     I love ginger, its savory and spicy, but plays so very well with sweet. I love every succulent thing about Ginger, its flavor, it's aroma, it's weird knobbly alien claw shape. I love Ginger so much I even got a Ginger roommate, even if his creepy soulless stare keeps me up at night.

Here's What You'll Need:
2 Tablespoons Crystallized Ginger
2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
1 Fresh Knob of Ginger, peeled and slightly bruised

9 fl Ounces of Apple Juice
9 fl Ounces of Canada Dry Ginger Ale
6 fl Ounces Stirrings Ginger Liquor (available at Krogers)

Here's What You'll Do:
1. Mix the Apple Juice and Ginger Liquor  in a pitcher and chill.
2. Chill your Ginger Ale
3. Use a coffee grinder, spice grinder, blender, food processor, or your cousins braces to thoroughly grind the Crystallized Ginger together with the Sugar to make Ginger Sugar.
4. Rub the rims of three tumblers with the ginger root to moisten them and dip them in your Ginger Sugar.
5. Pour 3 fl Ounces of Ginger Ale into each tumbler, followed by 5 fl Ounces of your Ginger Liquor, Apple Juice Mixture.
6. Smell it... Oh, sooo sexy.
7. Drink it.... Burns sooo good.

Bonus Points:
1. As above, but pour it all into one, much larger glass and don't share it.
2. Try grating a little fresh Nutmeg into your Ginger Liquor, Apple Juice Mixture before you chill it. Nutmeg and Ginger are B.F.F.'s 4E.
3. Make a little rose out of Pickled Ginger to go with each glass and serve them on a tray, have your guests drop the rose into their drink before consuming. It's tasty, fun, and adds a little bit of flashy ceremony.

Ginger Crusted Chicken

     Fast, easy, and with a distinctive Oriental flair, this is a dish to impress friends, family, or co-workers with at your next function.

Here's what you'll need:
8 Chicken legs
8 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 Teaspoons Ginger
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 Teaspoons Sesame Seed Oil
2 Teaspoons Red Food Coloring (Is food coloring cheating? Maybe. But damn does it look nice.)
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1 Teaspoon Cardamom (yeah, this one is a bit expensive, but a little goes a long way, so that bottle should last a while)
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

Here's what you'll do:

1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.
2. Rinse Chicken legs with cold water, pat dry with paper towels, and place on a baking sheet.
3. Combine all other ingredients in a bowl or Food Processor, they should form a red paste of medium thickness.
4. Spoon mixture liberally over chicken legs, making sure they are evenly coated.
5. Place tray on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 45-60 minutes, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Farenheit.
6. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 3-5 minutes then serve.
7. At this point the chicken should be covered with a crisp red brown crust.