You probably only see most of your relatives around this time of year. With good reason. Because they are a pain in the ass. Uncle Joe is showing anyone within eyeshot by how bad his excema is. Nieces and nephews are tearing around the place, destroying everything they get their sticky little hands on. And Grandma's in the corner complaining about various medical problems. In extremely disturbing detail.

Take the edge off by creating an entire Thanksgiving dinner using Maker's Mark bourbon. Here are the recipes for: Make Your Mark Turkey, Maker's Turkey Gravy, Happy Cranberries (with Kentucky bourbon in there, everyone will be happy), Sweet Potato Casserole, and some Spiked Cocoa for later.

I know the alcohol cooks off, but at least you can fantasize about sending your family into a bourbon-induced stupor so you can enjoy the holiday stress free. Or at the very least, have some on the rocks while you prep. A little for the turkey... a little for you... Makes the dinner so much more tolerable.

For more recipes (like a great one for bourbon chicken), go to www.makersmark.com

Make Your Mark Turkey
1 12-15 lb turkey
2 cups orange juice
2-3 cups Maker’s Mark Kentucky Bourbon
1/3 cup molasses
2 oranges (quartered) 1 onion (quartered)
2 lemons (quartered)
6 sage leaves (fresh is preferred)
4 sprigs of thyme (fresh is preferred)

Rinse the turkey thoroughly with cold water. Remove giblets and neck and freeze for cooking later.

Put the turkey in a 2- to 2 1/2-gallon zip-lock plastic bag. Combine orange juice, bourbon and molasses. Pour over the turkey and zip the bag closed.


Marinate the turkey in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours (can be longer based on discretion). Turn occasionally.


Remove the turkey from the bag; pour the liquid into a saucepan.


Stuff the turkey with the oranges, lemon and onion. Add sage and thyme.


Place the frozen neck and giblets in a well-greased roasting pan; put the turkey breast side down on a roasting rack and roast in the lower part of the oven at 350 degrees for about 3 hours (about 15 minutes per pound). A meat thermometer in the thigh should read 165 to 170 degrees.


If the turkey gets too brown, cover loosely with foil. Let rest 20 minutes out of the oven before carving.


Maker’s Turkey Gravy (from Make Your Mark Turkey juice)

Take any juices that have collected in the bottom of the roasting pan.


Skim off any foam and discard.


Reduce heat to low and simmer until reduced to about 3 cups. Degrease and strain out any solids.


For thicker gravy, mix together 1/4 cup bourbon with 3 tablespoons of flour and whisk into the marinade at the end of simmering and cook for about a minute, stirring constantly. Use any traditional mashed potatoes recipe.


Happy Cranberries
1 lb fresh cranberries
2 cups sugar
4 tbs Maker’s Mark Kentucky Bourbon
1/4 cup sugar

Place berries in a shallow pan. Sprinkle with 2 cups sugar.


Baker covered at 350 degrees for one hour.


Remove from oven and sprinkle with bourbon and remaining sugar.


Refrigerate- ready to serve anytime.


Sweet Potato Casserole
6 medium-sized sweet potatoes (about 4 lbs.)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup Maker’s Mark Kentucky Bourbon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Topping
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 stick margarine
1 cup chopped nuts

Cook sweet potatoes in boiling water for 20-25 minutes until tender; drain and let cool to touch.


Peel potatoes and mash pulp.


Combine potatoes and next 6 ingredients mixing well. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 1 1/2 -quart baking dish.


Mix together topping ingredients and cover sweet potato mixture.


Spiked Cocoa
1 cup milk
1 tsp hot chocolate mix
1 tsp coffee creamer
1 tsp Maker’s Mark Kentucky Bourbon
[Makes 1 cup of cocoa.]

For each person, heat a cup of milk to steaming. Remove from heat before bubbles begin to form around edge of saucepan.


Into cup or mug, measure chocolate mix, coffee creamer and bourbon. Add hot milk; stir until well mixed.