Dyanna Sells

Occupation: Bar Manager at Reds Restaurant

Family status: Married with three cats

How long have you lived in Sedona?
I’ve lived in Sedona for 10 years. I was born in Atlanta.

Why did you choose this recipe?
I’m from Georgia, and this has been my favorite since I was a little girl. Pecan pie is the best pie ever.

What is special about this recipe?
I’ve modified the recipe to reflect my trade, so it includes bourbon. I also use vanilla extract that I make from scratch. I don’t use any refined sugar – I substitute coconut sugar and coconut oil. But there is a secret ingredient in the crust: bacon fat.

Heels or sweat pants at the dinner table?
Heels.

Leftovers: yea or nay?
Yea!

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Hate it. Watch it every year. Been there, done that.
Been there, done that. The first time I ever saw the parade was live in 2013 when we went to New York with my in-laws. It was my mother-in-law’s dream to see the parade. I had never watched it on TV. It was freezing out!

Can you share a favorite holiday memory?
Last Thanksgiving we had dinner at my in-laws house along with my sisters who were in town from Portland. Then we went to my best friend’s house for another dinner.

How do you tackle the dinner aftermath?
I clean as I go.

What are your plans for Thanksgiving this year?
My husband and I are going to China. On Thanksgiving, we will be on a Yangtze River cruise passing through the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric project.

When do you start planning for the holidays?
I buy gifts throughout the year and save them for Christmas and birthdays. As for meals, I usually plan those two months out. My husband is the chef at Pago’s [Pizzeria & Italian Cuisine], but I’m the chef at home.

Any tips for hosting a large dinner party?
Give guests the least amount of options for drinks. That means less waste and it encourages more communication between guests. No one feels like someone else is more important. Keep your cats locked away, and encourage guests to bring their own Tupperware if they want to bring home leftovers.

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