Super Bowl Sunday, 2009. An explosion of bacon. Rather than using the sausage called for in the original recipe, I substituted a meatloaf mixture of ground beef. A-freaking-mazing.

Rarely have I ever seen such a diamond in the rough store as Galco’s Soda Pop Shop. Established in 1897, this incredible little place in Highland Park stocks more soda pop than you can shake a stick at. Grab yourself a root beer (or 2, or 20), and then mosey on down to the back of the store where they stock beers from around the world. I’ll be posting some of these as I drink them, but here are a few photos I shot while visiting the store.

tequila lime pomegranate cranberry sauce

• 2 12oz packages cranberries
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• seeds from 1 whole pomegranate
• shot of tequila
• squirt of lime juice
• optional: large can pears in water/juice (not syrup)

combine water and sugar in large saucepan (i use a nonstick wok), bring to boil, stirring until sugar fully dissolves.  add cranberries and return to boil.  add pomegranate juice, pomegranate seeds, and tequila, (optionally pears) and lower heat to simmer.  simmer until liquid has reduced about 1/4, or to whatever consistency you like.  mix in lime juice to taste, then cool in refrigerator overnight.  sauce will thicken in refrigerator.

give thanks.  makes enough to feed a small army.