Showing posts with label beer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beer. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Spicy Cheesy Beer Bread

 
Gardens. What can you do? I was telling a friend the other day that both my cucumber vines and melon vines are loaded with blossoms. I was quite proud of this until I noticed over the weekend when I was watering that they are all male.  MALE!!! I don’t have a female blossom on either of these plants. This means that for all of my watering, fertilizing, coddling, etc., I may not end up with a single cucumber or melon. Male blossoms do not produce offspring. It works the same way in humans, but I digress.

Photo credit: Missouri Botanical Garden

  On the other hand, I have a bumper crop of jalapeños, and because I do, I’m always looking for new ways in which to use them. I made shrimp boil foil packs for dinner the other day (cut the recipe in half, made two, had them two nights in a row and it was wonderful to not have to cook those two days ). They called for some sort of bread and because I used a little bit of beer in the foil packs, I thought I would use the remaining beer to make beer bread. I wanted to do something different with my beer bread recipe so decided to add more cheese, more seasoning, and jalapeños. It was fantastic! It would be a wonderful assortment with soup, stew, chili, any type of salad, or a Mexican meal. It’s easy to put together, you just stir and dump. This is a must try.

Spicy Cheesy Beer Bread

 3 c. flour

2½ T. sugar

1 T. baking powder

1 t. kosher salt

¼ t. Old Bay Seasoning

1½ c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 jalapeño, minced

12 oz. beer

3 T. melted butter

GARLIC BUTTER TOPPING:

2½ T. melted butter

1 t. dried parsley

½ t. garlic powder

 Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9"x5" loaf pan with PAM; set aside.

 In a large mixing bowl place flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and Old Bay; stir to combine. Fold in the shredded cheese and jalapeño. Make a little well in the center and gently pour in the beer, stirring to thoroughly combine.

Measure half of the melted butter into the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Use a pastry brush to spread it up the sides and distribute evenly on the bottom. Transfer batter to pan, spreading it out into an even layer.

 Pour the remaining half of the melted butter over the top of the batter, brushing it around so it evenly coats the top.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center tests clean.

Whisk together garlic butter topping ingredients and pour over the top of the hot bread as soon as it comes out of the oven.

Allow bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

This bread does not keep well, so you’d be wise to eat it within two days. It freezes quite well, however, and makes excellent toast.

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Friday, April 7, 2017

Happy National Beer Day!

Happy National Beer Day! I am not much of a beer drinker, well, truth be told, I don’t drink it at all. But I do love to cook with it, finding it can greatly enhance the flavor of any dish, be it sweet or savory. Here are some of my favorite recipes using beer, ale, and stout. Click on the name of the dish beneath the photo,  and you’ll be taken right to the post with the recipe. Cheers!

River City Casino Beer Cheese Soup

Black Magic Cake with Irish Mocha Frosting

Irish Cheddar and Leek Strata

Kräftig Beer Cheese Soup

Beer Steamed Potatoes

Chocolate Stout Cake


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Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Stocking Stuffers for the Foodie

I don't think that there is an easier group of people to shop for than the “foodie.”  Everywhere you look there is something that this delightful group of people may find useful, from seasonings to spices, to exotic and ethnic foods, to specialty liquors for those equally special cocktails, to mixes, equipment, and books. To add to the ease, something sure to please can be found to fit any budget, from a five dollar pack of vanilla beans from Melissa's Produce to a thousand dollar espresso machine from Williams-Sonoma.

If you or someone you know is shopping for a foodie, the Quarto Publishing Group can help you with this fantastic offering of diverse and “stocking stuffer worthy” cookbooks. Each of which is unique and interesting is its own special way.

Burger lovers (like me) will find much inspiration in this cute, burger-shaped book that offers both meat and meatless recipes and drool worthy pictures to both tempt and inspire you.
 Have a beer lover in your family?  He or she will be delighted with this bottle-shaped volume (the absolute perfect shape for stuffing a stocking) that will both educate and inspire. Reasonably priced, it can be tied onto or inserted into a six-pack making it a welcome host or hostess gift.
Ever wonder what to do with those cute Babybel cheeses? This book has all of the answers in its cheese-shaped self that can be easily added to a meat, wine, and cheese gift basket along with a heaping mound of Babybel cheeses.
 Exotic food loving foodies will absolutely delight in this fascinating Bombay Lunchbox book. If you are unfamiliar with the lunch delivery system in India, you need to read all about it here, and then whip up one of the toothsome recipes contained within. Colorful and informative, you won't be able to put this one down, and may soon find yourself booking passage to Bombay.
 Lastly, Carolyn and Chris Caldicott's book of British recipes is the perfect remedy for this busy, exhausting, seriously-in-need-of-comfort holiday season. Use this as the centerpiece in a gift basket for your favorite Anglophile along with a teapot, cup and saucer, tin of English breakfast tea, and a jar of clotted cream. A nutmeg grater, some whole nutmeg, and a package of vanilla beans will allow them to immediately try the Clotted Cream Rice Pudding recipe in the book.  It is seriously the closest thing to being wrapped in comfort. Toss in a DVD of the latest season of Midsomer Murders and you have a gift they will appreciate for months to come.
Happy shopping!

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Disclaimer:  I was provided these books, free of charge, in exchange for a review.


Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Super Bowl Snacks


Super Bowl is nearly upon us, so it's time to get out those recipes for tasty snacks. I have given you some exceptionally easy and, oh so delicious recipes during the past week, but here are four more that are also a cinch to make, universally appealing, and allow you time enough to actually enjoy the game and your company.
Click on the name of the dish to get the recipe.  From top left, going clockwise, Easy Cheddar Beer Spread, Seasoned Toasted Pecans (addicting), Hot Cheese Puffs, and Cheesy Bacon Pecan Spirals.ot Cgeese Puffs
 For those of you who aren't diehard football fans, are only minimally interested in the game, much less the outcome, and will be switching to “Downton Abbey” at 8:00, here's a recipe for authentic English scones. I'll be serving both!

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Sunday, May 6, 2012

Easy Cheddar Beer Spread


We’re getting into the season of cocktails on the patio and lemonade on the deck.  Along with these refreshing potables one must have snacks!  This tasty little spread is perfect for such an occasion.  It’s easy to do – everything is just dumped into a bowl and beaten together – and is most flavorful when made the day prior to usage.  Turn it out into a pretty bowl and keep it in the fridge so it’s ready when you are.  Then relax, have a cocktail, and enjoy.

Easy Cheddar Beer Spread

2 8-ounce packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese, room temperature
1 8-ounce package (2 cups) shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1packet Ranch Dressing Mix
1/2 can beer
6 scallions, thinly diced

Put everything into the work bowl of a stand mixer, and blend until smooth.  Refrigerate overnight.  Serve.

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Looking for more dip and spread ideas?  This book is full of them and can be a real life saver.