Thanksgiving Drink Recipes

Top off your green bean casserole with a real treat, certain to induce napping on the big day. (AND, If you are asleep you won't have to have any of Aunt Martha's mincemeat pie!) These drink recipes are great for a crowd and sure to please.


Hot Cider Punch
1 gallon apple juice
1 gallon apple cider
8 cinnamon sticks
10 whole cloves
1 cup sugar
juice of one lemon
Bring to a boil and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Let cool a little and add 4 cups dark rum. Serve in mugs with cinnamon sticks for stirring.
(If you like a hot buttered rum, add a pat of butter on top.)

Homemade Irish Cream
2 cups whiskey
1 pint half & half
1 can Eagle brand milk
1 Tbsp. chocolate syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
Put items in blender (in batches if needed) and blend until well mixed. Chill well and serve over ice or with coffee. Keeps for 2 weeks in the fridge.
Hint: add a touch of peppermint extract or schnapps, or your favorite coffee syrup for a Holiday touch!

Enjoy...and Happy Thanksgiving!




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Halverson's, Stoughton, WI

The planning has begun...at least for Halverson's in Stoughton, WI. Thanks to Sean Altenberg, Sysco Baraboo, they have three great new marketing pieces to advertise their "Homespun Thanksgiving". This is the perfect example of marketing made easy!



Kudos to Sean and Halverson's!
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Brought to you by the number ??

We want to wish a very special someone a HAPPY BIRTHDAY today. She's so good to us, she even cooked pancakes and sausage for us on HER birthday! Anyone want to join in in wishing Tressa Mills a very happy birthday?
P.S. She's the one on the left.
Thanks Tressa, for being a GREAT boss! Happy Birthday!
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Waiters World

Are your servers lacking inspiration lately? This is a neat link, not just for them, but for anyone in the restaurant/food biz. Especially enjoyable for any foodie is the "Cool Link for Professional Waiters", for information on wine, specialty beers, food trends, training tips and beyond.

Check it out at www.waitersworld.com
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Fall Fun

It's my favorite time of year in Michigan...fall colors, pumpkin carving, cool weather, football, comfy sweatshirts, crisp apples and apple cider. With Thanksgiving right around the corner (yikes) it's time to get prepared to market your special feast with a poster or table tent from MyMenuLab. Hey, since you gotta work on the big day, you might as well make it profitable, and a little advertising won't hurt! Or, create your holiday menu on a slugger insert...affordable and EASY!
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Great idea for Kids Menus!

Looking for an alternative to the Kids Placemats? This slugger was created by Ken McAllister - SYSCO Detroit. Check out the Kids Stuff section for many colorful choices in sluggers, table tent inserts and buzz cards, as well as the traditional placemats!
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Wedding Bells & More

Does your restaurant have catering or event planning services? A banquet room? Or a fantastic bakery? Check out the Holidays/Events section for themed products to advertise your specialty. Super simple stuff to help boost your business...
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Cornwell's Turkeyville, Marshall, MI

This is not the first time Dan Zondervan's work has been posted on MyMenuLab's blog..but he came through again with a good looking fall collection for Cornwell's Turkeyville in Marshall, MI!
Now really is the time to start marketing your fall holiday specials. Look in Holidays & Events on the start page, then Fall Holidays. Pre-plan for Christmas events while you're there! (Or, be like me and go into serious denial that it's close enough to start thinking about it.) Either way, good job AGAIN, Dan!

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MML Help Options

We realize here at MyMenuLab that the answers aren't always right in front of you.
So, we decided to break it down for you...check out the new Help Section by clicking on the pink question mark, then choose from tutorials, videos or live help. If you're still stumped, send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
As always, thanks for using MyMenulab!
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Fall = Football

With fall right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about your seasonal specials and events. A crowd favorite? FOOTBALL!

Make a super simple Table Tent or Poster like this one and watch the crowds roll in for the Big Game (less than a month away!)

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5 Reasons to use the MML Image Gallery!

1) It was newly updated with even MORE photos!
2) It's easier than taking a photo of your food or beverage before it melts.
3) It's so easy, just click on "Image Gallery" adjacent to the spot you want to add the photo....choose your food category, and pick an image to upload!
4) Food photos are guaranteed to be high resolution and properly sized.
5) Profitablity...customers eat with their eyes before reading the description...if you want to push a high profit item, popbox it with a great photo from the Image Gallery. Watch that item sell like crazy!

MyMenuLab is here to provide you with tools to make the best looking menu possible. Why not make it even easier on yourself?

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How long is the wait?

We all want our customers to be happy, from the moment they walk in the door to the ride home and beyond. So, what do we do to make sure that happens in the busy season...you know what I mean, right? We've possibly been in this situation ourselves....You have your whole family on vacation. The kids are crabby, hungry and tired. You're Mother-in-law is WAY past her dinner hour and tired. And you. You are just tired. Everyone is hungry. The only problem is that the wait time at the restaurant of choice is approaching an hour. What would you like to see that restaurant do to help accommodate your party of 8? And what, as a restaurant owner, can you do to make sure everyone is taken care of?
Your first order of business: keep the kids occupied. If the kids are whining, the adults will be....well...whining. If the kids come in and appear rambunctious, have a plan. Have some games, paper, pens, crayons and possibly a snack basket to hand them. When the table of 2 adults and 6 kids DOES get seated, have your waitstaff trained to order the kids meals first (usually a quicker cook-time), separate from the adult meals (takes a little longer to prepare). The kids get fed while the adult meals are cooking and Mom and Dad can actually enjoy their meals while the kids have a scoop if ice cream.

Next, be sure you are calculating your wait times appropriately for your place of business. There is no magic formula. It all depends on the speed and efficiency of your kitchen and waitstaff. If you are unsure, try tracking if for a couple of nights (have an extra door person help you). Calculate the average meal time and go from there. This may help avoid the inevitable "You told me 30 minutes and it's been 45!" (If wait times are typically long, invest in the buzzers that customers can take with them to alert them when their table is ready.) We can't be 100% accurate, but the closer the better.

Lastly, a warm welcome doesn't hurt. The old adage "Killing them with kindness" still works...usually. It's easy to look and sound snappy and stressed out when you have an hour and a half wait, it's hot and chaotic and you are already "over it" for the night. Try not to let 'em get to you...remember, a cold adult beverage is a few short hours away!
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