26 New To Me Recipes in 2026 # 5 and #6 -Sauces

I love cooking with a lot of spices and I love a glaze or sauce.  A good sauce can be utilized in so many different ways and really give a basic meal a nice kick. 

At the end of March, we met my brother and his family at Fridays to spend some time together and catch up.  We haven't been to a Friday's since we lived in Florida, and it was TGI Fridays back then.   I ordered the chicken sandwich with whiskey sauce and as soon as I started eating, I remembered that sauce very well.  As I ate, I was thinking about all of the different things this sauce would be delicious on.  Chicken, fish, salmon, burgers...so many uses.  I looked up copycat recipes and landed on this one and it does not disappoint.

Friday's Whiskey Glaze

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup pineapple juice

2/3 cup water

1/4 cup Jack Daniel's whiskey

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon garlic granulated or powder

1 teaspoon onion granulated or powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons cornstarch

In a medium saucepan, combine all of the ingredients except for the cornstarch.  Heat and whisk over medium heat until the mixture is reduced by a third and coats the back of a spoon.  It took about 20 minutes.

Whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and then whisk into the glaze.  Remove from the heat and allow to cool. 

Once cooled, refrigerate for at least one hour and it will continue to thicken.

I've made this twice in the last month and we've enjoyed it on a variety of meats. 

In early April we had lunch at Drakes which we enjoy two or three times a year.  I love their burgers but once I tried their club sandwich a few years ago, I was hooked.  They use a wheat berry bread perfectly toasted and are very generous with the meats, cheese, lettuce and tomato.  Another thing that really puts it over the top is their honey mustard sauce.  It is delicious so again I searched for a good copycat recipe and landed on this one.

Drakes Honey Mustard Sauce

1/2 cup mayo (you can also use sour cream or yogurt, but I used mayo)

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

pinch of paprika

Place in a jar with a lid and shake it all up.  Refrigerate for at least an hour to let it all combine well.

This is good on a salad, sandwiches, chicken strips, fries and probably a lot more.

I don't know how we are already at the April, but here we are.  I hope everyone had a lovely month and that May is even better.

Do you have a favorite sauce??  Inquiring minds would like to know.