Perfect Pairing Reading Guide 

December's Theme: The Holidays 🎄❄️

Celebrate the magic of the season with Good Spirits by B.K. Borison—a heartwarming holiday romance where a charming ghost and a spirited heroine prove that love can transcend even the afterlife. With its cozy small-town charm, witty banter, and just the right touch of holiday sparkle, this story is destined to be your new favorite winter read.

Our Page & Pairing Perfect Pairing Reading Guide brings the world of Good Spirits to life with festive recipes, cookbook and nonfiction pairings, holiday cocktails and mocktails, and thoughtful discussion questions. It's everything you need to make your reading experience merry and bright.

Good Spirits by B K Borison

The Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!

He's the Ghost of Christmas Past. She's not exactly Scrooge.
Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other--get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he's faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he's ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm, this swoony romance is B.K. Borison's best yet!
 

Discussion Questions for Good Spirits

1. If you could go back and revisit your holidays of the past, when and where would you go? What makes that moment special?
2. If you had the opportunity to haunt someone on a holiday, and maybe even take them through their past, who would it be on what holiday?

Food Pairings for Good Spirits

When it comes to the holidays, there is an extra special kind of magic in the air. Whether it’s ghosts of christmas past or the joy and comfort of a great meal, being able to capture a bit of that magic makes the season extra special. Here is a great book to help you bring some magic to the table.

Magical Christmas Cookbook: Create the Sparkle of European Christmas Markets at Home with 75 Festive Recipes by Murdoch Books

It's time to light the candles, decorate the home and start mulling the wine. Christmas is coming and you're going to need plenty of comforting recipes to take you through the festive season.

Whether you're expecting lots of guests, or you just want to create a special meal for two of you, The Magical Christmas Cookbook will provide all the inspiration you need - along with festive poems and songs to accompany this most enchanting time of year. There are over 70 recipes for complete meals and everyone's favourite baked treats that will fill the house with the smell of spices.

Classic Struffoli

This classic Italian dessert, better known as Italian honey balls, are a delicious festive treat served during christmas. Struffoli is a light and crunchy treat that is usually served in a wreath shape with colorful sprinkles. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cup all-purpose flour, plus some for dusting
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp orange and 1 ½ tsp lemon zest
• ¾ honey
• 1Tbsp orange juice
• 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
• ½ tsp  kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups canola oil for deep-frying
• Rainbow nonpareil sprinkles or fun festive colors
• Plastic wrap

Instructions:

1. Add 2 cups flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, orange and lemon zest, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon baking powder in a food processor with the blade attachment. Pulse to combine. Add butter and pulse until fully incorporated and the flour has more texture
2. Add 3 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Pulse until mixture forms a ball. Dust hands with flour, remove dough from the food processor, and form into a ball before wrapping in plastic wrap and refrigerating for 30 min. 
3. Lightly dust a baking sheet and work surface. Cut dough into 8 pieces and roll each piece on the work surface into ½-inch ropes, about 10 to 12 inches long. Cut rope crosswise into ½ inch pieces - should be about 20 to 24 pieces. Roll pieces into balls.
4. Heat 3 cups of canola oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat until 350 degrees. Line the second baking sheet with paper towels. 
5. Fry in 4 batches. Carefully add the dough in hot oil and fry until puffed and golden brown all over, about 2 minutes. Use slotted utensils to remove the dough balls, carefully shake off extra oil and transfer to the paper towel.
6. Place ¾ cup honey and orange juice in a large skillet over medium heat and stir to combine. Cook until honey is warm and syrupy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Add all dough balls to the skillet and turn off heat before tossing until coated.
8. Remove skillet from heat and let cool for about five minutes. Coat outside of a straight sided glass with cooling spray and place in the middle of a round platter or cake stand.
9. Using a spoon, pile the struffoli balls around the glass creating a wreath shape. Drizzle any remaining honey syrup over the top and decorate with sprinkles. 
10. Let sit for 10 minutes before removing the glass.

Beverage Pairings for Good Spirits - Alcoholic and NA

Smoking Bishop

While drinking was frowned on in victorian society, Charles Dickens had no problems letting his characters enjoy a drink or two in his novels. Dickens himself was known to enjoy a sweet drink or two, including the Smoking Bishop. This mulled wine punch made it’s way into the pages of A Christmas Carol.

Ingredients:

• 5 oranges
• 2 lemons
• 30 whole cloves
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ¼ teaspoon mace
• 1 piece of ginger root peeled and cut into chunks
• 1 bottle red wine
• ½ cup sugar with more to taste
• 1 bottle ruby port
• 1 cup water

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300degrees.
2. Make 5 small incisions with a sharp knife into the 5 oranges and 1 lemon. Stick whole cloves into each incision. Place oranges and lemon on a baking sheet. Roast in oven for 75 minutes until the peels begin to lose their color. Remove from oven and replace any cloves that may have fallen from their cuts. Add fruit to the bottom of a large bowl.
3. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water with the cinnamon, allspice, mace, and ginger. Whisk together and bring to a boil. Simmer mixture until the liquid is reduced by half before removing from heat.
4. In a larger pan, pour the bottle of red wine and heat over medium high heat. Reduce to a slow simmer then pour in the sugar and whisk until it dissolves. Let the wine simmer for 10 minutes before stirring in the spice liquid mixture. Remove from heat.
5. Pour heated wine over the roasted fruit and stir to combine. Cover bowl and place in a warm space for 24 hours. 
6. After 24 hours, slice the fruit in half and juice them into the wine. Then pour the mixture into a pot through a strainer to remove solids.
7. Add the bottle of port to the pot and stir over medium heat until hot, but not boiling.
8. Vapors will rise from the wine giving it it’s signature “smoking” look.
9. Add sugar to taste. Cut remaining lemon into rounds or wedges to float in the warmed wine. Serve in heat safe glasses and/or punch bowl.

Non-Alcoholic Drink: Christmas Punch

For a delicious holiday drink that everyone can enjoy, try out this simple drink of fruit and fruit juices. Christmas punch is a tasty combo of cranberries and oranges all in a festive red color that will work for any seasonal holiday party. 

Ingredients:

• 1 orange, sliced with more for garnish
• 1 cup cranberries, plus more for garnish
• ½ cup pomegranate seeds
• 2 cups cranberry juice, unsweetened recommended
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 2 cups lemon-lime soda
• Ice
• Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish

Instructions:

1. Add the slices of orange, 1 cup cranberries, and ½ cup pomegranate seeds into a large pitcher or punch bowl.
2. Pour in 2 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups orange juice, 1 cup pomegranate juice, and 2 cups of lemon-lime soda.
3. Serve over ice with a garnish of rosemary sprigs, orange slices, and cranberries.

Further Book Recommendations

Christmas isn’t just about gathering around with family for presents and food, it’s about that “sentimental feeling” in the air. This books brings together a great collection of recipes, crafts, games, and other holiday traditions that you can do this Christmas with family and friends. It’s perfect for that touch of nostalgia you’re looking for this season.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: A Festive Guide to Celebrating the Holidays (Recipes, Crafts, and More!)

by Harper Celebrate Harper Celebrate

Get the most out of your Yuletide celebrations and let the Christmas spirit ring with this full-color festive handbook to all things holiday! You will rock around your Christmas tree this season with the beloved, nostalgic #1 chart-topping song as your guide to a host of holiday fun, from recipes and crafts to party games, decor ideas, and more!

Back in 1958, sock hops were the rage, aluminum Christmas trees were the future, and 13-year-old singer Brenda Lee was recording the soon-to-be-classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." This delightful gift book--perfect for stockings, coffee tables, or under the tree--celebrates the song's record-breaking revived popularity, with ideas for holiday parties, innovative decorations, cozy meals, and more.

Celebrating beyond the Holidays!

The end of the year is always filled with holiday celebrations. From Hanukkah to Christmas to Yule to New Year, there is a lot going on and smaller celebrations can get pushed aside. But, if you want to make a celebration special without having to make a big fuss, this great cookbook is great for finding just the right food for every celebration, including the little ones. 

Party People: A Cookbook for Creative Celebrations

by Brie Larson - Courtney McBroom

Celebrate any occasion (really, any occasion!) with 100 creative recipes and endless ideas for your next party, from Academy Award-winning actor Brie Larson and former Milk Bar culinary director Courtney McBroom

Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom found each other through food--a huge vat of molten queso, to be exact. They've been throwing food-filled parties together ever since. From game nights to themed birthday parties and their annual Hot Dog Appreciation Festival, they can find a reason to celebrate just about anything.

While their debate over whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich will never end, Brie and Courtney can agree that food always tastes best when you cook it and eat it with the ones you love. They wrote Party People to help you create meaningful connections with the ones you love, whether that's with family, friends, or yourself. And with recipes like Old Pal cocktails, Cheesy Jenga Bread, and Dueling Roast Chickens, they have you covered.

Technically, this is an entertaining cookbook. But Brie and Courtney are serving up more than party tips and menus. They give you the tools to spark a new dining revolution in your home, one where connection takes center stage and entertaining is an afterthought. Now, go forth and party!