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Beer Styles

Beer Braised Chinese Five Spice Short Ribs over Mimolette Polenta with Red Plum Chimichurri

Beer Braised Chinese Five Spice Short Ribs over Mimolette Polenta with Red Plum Chimichurri

This is going to sound crazy, I know that. But short ribs need stone fruit. They do, it’s a perfect pairing. You don’t believe me? Are you doubting my powers of uncommon food pairings? This is a mistake on your part because short ribs and reb plums go together as well as a pilsner and mowing the lawn. 

There is such a gorgeous balance when the sweet and lightly acidic tang of the plum cuts through the rich deep flavors and fattiness of the slow-cook beef. Have I convinced you yet? Either way, you obviously have to try it to come to your own conclusion that I’m right. Obviously. 

Beer Braised Chinese Five Spice Short Ribs over Mimolette Polenta with Red Plum Chimichurri

Ingredients
  

Short ribs

  • 2.5 lbs. short ribs
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • ¼ cup (30g) flour
  • 3 tablespoons five spice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ large sweet white onion about 1 ½ cups, chopped
  • 1 cup (8oz) stout beer
  • 1 cup (236g) beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

Chimichurri

  • 2 large red plums chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped shallots
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 3 tablespoons green onions chopped
  • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
  • 2 tablespoons aged balsamic
  • 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Polenta:

  • 4 cups (960g) chicken broth
  • 1 cup (160g) dry polenta
  • ½ cup (120g) heavy cream
  • 3 ounces mimolette cheese shredded
  • 1 (6g) salt

Instructions
 

Make the short ribs:

  • Preheat the oven to 325°.
  • Salt the short ribs on all sides.
  • Add the flour and five spice to a bowl, stir to combine.
  • Dredge the short ribs in the flour mixture, coating on all sides.
  • Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium high heat.
  • Sear the short ribs on all sides, remove from pan.
  • Add the onions, cooking over medium heat until starting to caramelize, about 15 minutes. Add the beer, scraping to deglaze the bottom of the pan.
  • Stir in the broth and tomato paste. Add the short ribs back in, cover, and add to the oven.
  • Cook for about 3 hours or until fork tender, checking on the ribs about every hour, turning over and returning to the oven until done.

Make the chimichurri:

  • Add all the ingredients to a bowl, stir to combine.

Make the polenta:

  • In a pot over medium-high heat, add the broth, and polenta. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and polenta has softened, about 20 minutes.
  • Stir in the cream, cheese, and 1 teaspoon salt, allow to cook until absorbed, about 5 minutes.

Serve:

  • Plate the polenta, top with short ribs, then chimichurri.

Beermosa Cupcakes with Lemon Meringue Frosting


We need a break, don’t we? We have been in a worldwide state of semi-to-full-blow chaos for the better part of two years so I think we’ve earned a break. A real one. A "shut everything out and do something just because you want to and ignore everything else" break. This is when I bake. I bake something sort of ridiculous while being pretty sure I will be the only eater of the thing, and I shut it all out. All. Of. It. 

Maybe this weekend we can get a break. A recentering. A little relief from it all and then we will have more energy to slay the dragons. But first, cupcakes and of course beer. I’m a big fan of Georgetown Brewing's Johnny Utah, which I always refer to as "The Yoot" because it’s more fun and reminds me to watch My Cousin Vinny again, which will also qualify as a break. So, in summation, your marching orders are to eat cupcakes and drink Georgetown beer while watching a young Marisa Tomei make a bunch of old men look like idiots. It will restore your faith in humanity. 

Beermosa Cupcakes with Lemon Meringue Frosting

Ingredients
  

For the cupcakes:

  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2/3 cup (150g) sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (114g) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into cubes
  • 2 large egg whites
  • ¼ cup (2oz) beer
  • ¼ cup (2oz) orange juice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

For the frosting:

  • 3/4 cup (175g) sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 3 large egg whites
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon extract
  • Raspberries and lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions
 

Make the Cupcakes:

  • Preheat the oven to 350F°.
  • Add the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer.
  • With the mixer on low, add the butter (must be softened, cold/hard butter will not work) a few cubes at a time until it’s mostly mixed and crumbly (this method of reverse creaming will feel strange if you’re a long time cake baker, but it is a great way to get tender cupcakes).
  • Add the egg whites one at a time, beating well between addition, this will build the structure of the cupcakes.
  • Stir in the beer, orange juice and vanilla extract, scraping the bottom of the bowl to ensure the batter is mixed well.
  • Pour into 12 cupcakes papers. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the top springs back when lightly touched.

Make the frosting:

  • in a metal or glass bowl of a stand mixer, add the sugar, cream of tartar, egg whites.
  • Add to a double boiler or a small pot with gently simmering water. Whisk with a hand whisk continually until the mixture is warm and the sugar has dissolved leaving no graininess when you rub it between your fingers.
  • Place the bowl in the stand mixer and beat on high with a whisk attachment until thick and glossy. Add to a piping bag.
  • Once the cupcakes are cooled, pipe the frosting on, and garnish with raspberries. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

Cream Puffs with Browned Butter Pastry Cream and Espresso Stout Chocolate Sauce

Cream Puffs with Browned Butter Pastry Cream and Espresso Stout Chocolate Sauce

So, we’re eating our feelings this week, yes? Yes. Three-day weekends are built for long cooking projects and this week is built for emotional eating. I do this sometimes, bake really complicated things because it gives me a solid win when I need one. It also makes it hard for my mind to wonder when I have to worry about dough and baking times and if my pastry cream will set (it will, promise). 

 

It’s like this little secret that I hide behind my "I like to bring the most impressive treats to the party" persona, it’s more that I like to know that I have something that I can control that will make people happy. Beer and food make people happy, even if just for a moment. So put down the doom scrolling and just spend some time in your kitchen and make something that will bring some joy to this really messed up world. 

Cream Puffs with Browned Butter Pastry Cream and Espresso Stout Chocolate Sauce

5 from 1 vote

Ingredients
  

Pastry Cream:

  • ½ cup (114g) unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ cups (16oz) whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Cream Puff Dough:

  • 1 cup (228g) pale ale beer
  • ½ cup (114g) butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¼ cups (175g) flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • Egg wash optional

Chocolate Sauce:

  • 10 oz dark chocolate 62%
  • ¾ cup (6oz) stout beer
  • 1 tablespoon espresso powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Flaky sea salt for finishing

Instructions
 

Make the pastry cream:

  • Add the butter to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Allow to melt and become foamy, stirring frequently.
  • After about ten minutes the foam will subside, and the liquid will become more translucent and you will be able to see the bottom of the saucepan and small bits on the bottom. Whisk continuously until it smells nutty and the bits have browned, remove from heat. Stir in the milk, add back to heat until bubbles start to form around the edges of the saucepan.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the vanilla, cornstarch, egg yolks, sugar, and salt until well combined.
  • Whisk the egg mixture continually while slowly poring the warm liquid into the bowl.
  • Add the mixture to the saucepan over medium heat, whisking until thicken. Remove from heat, add to a storage container and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Make the cream puff dough:

  • Add the beer and butter to a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the butter is melted and just starting to boil.
  • Remove from heat, add the salt, flour, and sugar.
  • Add back to medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon constantly until mixture becomes one large ball and clings to the spoon (this should only take a minute and the pan may be hot enough that you don’t need to reintroduce heat).
  • Add to a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, allow to cool for ten minutes.
  • Preheat the oven the 450° F.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until the dough starts to come back together (after looking as if it may be breaking) before adding another egg.
  • Mix for at least 2 minutes after the last egg until the mixture looks creamy, and when you pull the mixer paddle up, it leaves a trail that looks like a bird's beak where the dough slides back down but still clings to the paddle.
  • The dough should be smooth and sticky. Add to a piping bag with a star tip.
  • Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pipe circles of dough onto the parchment, about 1 ½ inches wide.
  • With the tip of a wet finger, press the tip down so it doesn’t look like a sorting hat. Brush with egg wash.
  • Bake for 5 minutes and then reduce heat to 350°F without opening the oven. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the cream puffs are golden brown, allow to cool.
  • Use a bread knife to slice the top off the cream puffs.

Make the chocolate sauce:

  • Add all of the chocolate sauce ingredients to the top of a double boiler over gently simmering water. Stir continually until just melted, remove from heat.

Assemble the cream puffs:

  • Pipe pastry cream into the center.
  • Replace the top.
  • Top with chocolate sauce, sprinkle with sea salt.
  • Serve room temperate or chilled.

 

Have A Beer With Me + A Recipe For Creamy Chard Beer Polenta with Eggs

Creamy Chard Beer Polenta with Eggs

You guys. Let’s hang out, like in real REAL life. I was invited to this incredible women in beer festival, one that other women I have been secretly internet stalking for years will be at as well in real REAL life. There will be beer, doughnuts, me being too loud and awkward and probably telling inappropriate jokes, and I think you should be there. 

I’ll even cook for you, and scribble in one of my cookbooks if you want me to. Because we’ve always talked about getting together and having a beer and I think it’s time we actually do it. Because life is short and beer is delicious and it’s something we’ll always be glad we did. 

Join me at Brave Brew Fest March 4-6

 

Creamy Chard Beer Polenta with Eggs

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ cups (600g) vegetable broth
  • 1 cup (8oz) pale ale
  • 1 cup (125g) dry polenta
  • ½ cup (120g) heavy cream
  • ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese plus additional for garnish
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt divided
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 garlic cloves crushed
  • 3 cups (100g) chopped red chard
  • 4 eggs poached

Instructions
 

  • In a pot over medium-high heat, add the broth, beer and polenta. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and polenta has softened, about 20 minutes.
  • Stir in the cream, cheese, and 1 teaspoon salt, allow to cook until absorbed, about 5 minutes.
  • While the polenta cooks, sauté the chard.
  • Melt the butter in a pan over medium high heat. Add the chard, cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic and the salt, remove from heat.
  • Add the polenta to a serving bowl, top with chard, poached eggs and sprinkle with cheese.
  • Serve warm.

Beery Berry Skillet Cake

Beery Berry Skillet Cake, super quick and easy! One bowl and ten minutes and it’s ready to bake. 

You guys, I’m moving again. I know. I KNOW. In case you’re scoring at home, that will be 6 houses I’ve lived in since I started this weird "let’s see if I can cook all the things with beer" journey.  I’m only moving a few miles away, which is much easier than the time I moved from LA to Seattle and tore my entire life apart. This is just moving stuff from one place to another so it’s fine. IT’S FINE EVERYTHING IS FINE. 

I am living out of a box-filled house which looks slightly like an organized hoarding situation. I also have packed most of my kitchen stuff so I am limited in my ability to cook the things. Which means I made a cake in a skillet like a weirdo. This is also fine because it tasted amazing and it only looks like 7.5 minutes to get it in the oven. So if you have a limited kitchen situation or just a limited desire for long cooking projects situation, but still want a yummy cake you can eat out of the pan with a fork in one hand and a beer in the other, do I have a recipe for you my friend!



Beery Berry Skillet Cake

Ingredients
  

  • 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter plus 2 tablespoons (29g), divided
  • 1/3 cup (80g) beer Pilsner, wheat beer, pale lager
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup (200g) sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ¼ cup (160g) AP flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (335g) frozen berries
  • Whipped cream for serving

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F
  • Melt 6 tablespoons of butter and allow to cool slightly. Add to a mixing bowl, stir in the beer.
  • Whisk in the egg, sugar, and vanilla.
  • Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, stir until just combined.
  • Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to a 9-inch cast iron skillet. Add to the oven until the butter is melted.
  • Remove the skillet and swirl to distribute the butter.
  • Pour the batter into the pan in an even layer. Top with the frozen berries.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the center has set and the edges are a dark golden brown.
  • Remove from oven allow to cool.
  • Top with whipped cream for serving.

Chocolate Christmas Ale Cake with Dulce de leche Cream Filling

Chocolate Christmas Ale Cake with Dulce de leche Cream Filling

Do you Christmas cake or do you Christmas pie? I do both. I love this chocolate pie that’s requested so regularly I am not allowed to attend holiday gatherings without it. But I also want cake because I’m like that. Apparently, I just love chocolate and beer, along with sugar and baked goods and I’m not picky beyond that. It’s an issue. 

I decided to do a cake this year for a holiday party and since I already had way more Dulce de Leche than I knew what to do with after making these, I decided to build an entire cake around the fact that I needed to get more Dulce de Leche in my face as quickly as possible.  

The cake disappeared without a trace about 30 minutes after I arrived at the party, it’s honestly one of my favorite cakes I’ve ever made. And since I still have Dulce de Leche left, I might make it again. Don’t judge me, it’s the holidays. 

Chocolate Christmas Ale Cake with Dulce de leche Cream Filling

5 from 1 vote

Ingredients
  

For the cake:

  • 3 ounces dark chocolate
  • ½ cups (4oz) hot brewed coffee
  • 1 cup 8oz stout beer
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 ½ cups (375g) sugar
  • ¾ cup (180g) vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ cups (360g) sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¾ cups (168g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons (10g) baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon (5g) baking powder
  • 1 teaspoons (6g) salt

For the Filling:

  • 1 ½ cups (342g) softened butter
  • 1 cup (115g) powdered sugar
  • 1 cup (305g) dulce de leche* homemade or store bought

Frosting:

  • 1 ½ cups (342g)softened butter
  • ½ cup (114g) shortening
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (230g) powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

Make the Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 325°F.
  • Add the chocolate, coffee and beer to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir and repeat until melted (this can also be done in a double boiler).
  • Add the eggs and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer, beat on high until light in color and well combined. Add the vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla, beat until well combined. Mix in the chocolate mixture.
  • In a separate bowl stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  • Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the wet ingredients, stir until just combined.
  • Divide evenly between three 9-inch cake pans that have been greased and floured.
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until the top springs back when lightly touched.

Make the Filling:

  • Add the butter to a stand mixer, beat until light and fluffy. Add the dulce de leche and the powdered sugar, mix until well combined.
  • Add the filling between each layer of cake.

Make the Frosting:

  • Add the butter and shortening to a stand mixer, beat on high until well combined. Add the vanilla, mixing well.
  • Add the powdered sugar and salt, beat until well combined.
  • Frost the cake, keep chilled until ready to serve.

Notes

Dulce de Leche is easy to make, you just need a can of sweetened condensed milk and some time. For more info about making it yourself, read this post: https://domesticfits.com/2019/12/05/chocolate-stout-cookies-with-salted-dulce-de-leche-filling-pressure-cooker-or-stove-top/

Super Soft Beer Sugar Cookies

I’m the weird one, I know this, let me count the ways. First, there is this thing about how I hate drinking milk (gag) and believe that beer makes a much better pairing for cookies.

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Everything Bagel Beer Butter and Potato Dinner Rolls

You HAVE to make these: Everything Bagel Beer Butter and Potato Dinner Rolls

If you were forced (yes FORCED) to rank all Thansgiving foods by how much you want to binge eat them, where would rolls rank? And why would turkey not even make the top 5?

Rolls easily rank #1 for me (beer doesn’t count, it’s the free space in the middle of this bingo board). Then mashed potatoes, followed by pie. Turkey still doesn’t crack the top 3, even when I beer brine it and confit it, which is my absolute favorite way to make it. 



These potato and beer infused rolls are my go-to when it comes to holiday carb fueled food celebrations. Soft, pillowy, and perfect for the next day leftover-sliders-food-fest. Call me crazy, but I vastly prefer leftovers to the actual meal, especially since it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll eat them in your pajamas and that just makes everything taste better. 

Everything Bagel Beer Butter and Potato Dinner Rolls

5 from 1 vote

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup (114g) butter
  • ½ cup (114g) whole milk
  • ½ cup (114g) wheat beer
  • 1 tablespoon (21g) honey
  • 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 packet 2 ¼ teaspoons Rapid Rise yeast
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • cup (40g) potato flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • Egg wash 1 egg, 1 tablespoon water, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning mix

Instructions
 

  • Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl. Add the milk, beer and honey. Heat until 120°-130°F (if your yeast packet mentions a different temperature, use that temperature instead).
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the flour, yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, and potato flakes.
  • Add the beer mixture, stirring on medium speed until most of the flour has been moistened. Add the salt and egg, stir until well combined and the dough gathers around the blade.
  • Oil a large bowl. Using wet hands, move the dough to the bowl. The dough will be very soft and sticky.
  • Cover and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 45-60 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • On a well-floured surface add the dough. Cut into 12 equal sized pieces.
  • Roll into tight balls, add to a 9x13 baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
  • Cover and allow to rest until doubled in size.
  • Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with seasoning mix.
  • Bake uncovered until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
  • Serve warm.

Overnight Bourbon Stout Pecan Croissant French Toast with Blood Orange Mascarpone Cream

Overnight Bourbon Stout Pecan Croissant French Toast with Blood Orange Mascarpone Cream

I like when we do this. We make what is obviously a dessert (sshhhh!) and serve it for breakfast because if you add syrup and coffee it’s for breakfast. Don’t worry, I’ve been here before I know the road. 

It also helps to remember that breakfast is the most important meal so it can demand dessert to be called whatever it wants because it’s the queen and we must bow. This is also why it’s OK to add orange juice to champagne and pretend like it’s a breakfast beverage. Or vodka in your V8 is normal pre-noon drinking behavior. Because Breakfast said so and we must all listen. 

I am also here to say again for the millionth (but not the last) time that breakfast food needs to be acceptable as dessert foods, we’re halfway there. We put icing on some fried ring-shaped cakes and call them breakfast. We pour syrup on bread pudding and call it breakfast. See?! We’re so close! 

To reverse engineer this feat, just serve breakfast foods after dinner, add some whipped mascarpone, hold the syrup, swap the coffee for beer, and BAM you’ve got dessert. Everyone will think you’re brilliant because you are. And everyone wants to do this they just need you to clear the path. And you can because you’re a trendsetter, obviously. 

Overnight Bourbon Stout Pecan Croissant French Toast with Blood Orange Mascarpone Cream

Ingredients
  

For the French Toast:

  • 8 medium-sized croissants 1 lbs total weight
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cup half and half or ¾ cup whole milk and ¾ cups heavy cream
  • ¼ cup stout beer Bourbon barrel aged
  • 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup candied pecans

For the Mascarpone Cream:

  • 8 oz mascarpone
  • 2 tablespoons half and half or heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon blood orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Cut the croissants into quarters. Add to a to an 8x8 pan, press firmly into the pan.
  • In a mixing bowl add the eggs, half and half, beer, both sugars, vanilla, and salt, whisk until well combined.
  • Pour the mixture over the croissants, sprinkle with pecans. Cover and refrigerate overnight and up to 3 days.
  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Remove the casserole from the fridge while the oven preheats.
  • Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until the center has puffed and top is slightly crisp.
  • Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly, cut into 9 squares.
  • In a bowl, add the mascarpone and whip with a hand mixer until creamy. Add the heavy cream, beat to combine. Then beat in the orange juice and vanilla, then the powdered sugar.
  • Serve the casserole with mascarpone cream.

Elote Beer and Bacon Corn Chowder

Elote Beer and Bacon Corn Chowder

It’s pretty obvious from the soup I’ve been making that I miss summer already. My "lizard on a rock" vibes do not mesh well with below-freezing temps and lack of sunlight. So I soupify things meant to be consumed in warmer months. Ta-da! Street corn soup! 

Which doesn’t really help, no matter how delicious it is. I also want to put my Christmas decorations up, so clearly I have no grasp on the concept of seasons. Blame it on my Southern California roots, since I was born and bred in year-round sunshine, street corn, and Holiday decor in 80-degree weather. It really is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how much of a mess I am. But I do have delicious soup and beer, so it could be worse. 

Elote Beer and Bacon Corn Chowder

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 6 ears sweet corn
  • 6 strips thick cut bacon chopped
  • 1 sweet white onion chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions chopped, white and green parts separated
  • 2 large Anaheim chilis chopped and seeded
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup pilsner
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • ¼ cup thinly sliced cilantro
  • 1 large russet potato peeled and chopped
  • ½ cup Mexican crema
  • ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons chopped green onions

Instructions
 

  • Using a grill pan or an outdoor grill, grill the corn until grill marks appear.
  • Cut the kernels off the cob, save the cobs and kernels separately.
  • In a Dutch oven or stockpot off heat add the bacon, turn heat to medium. Cook until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon, set aside for garnish.
  • Add the chilies and onions to the bacon grease, cook until softened.
  • Stir in the garlic.
  • Add the beer, scraping to deglaze the bottom of the pot.
  • Stir in the broth, milk, cream.
  • Add the spices, stir to combine.
  • Add the cobs, corn kernels, and potatoes.
  • Simmer (do not boil) for 30 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Remove the cobs.
  • Add 2/3 of the soup to a blender, blend until smooth.
  • Return the blended soup to the pot, bring to a low simmer to warm.
  • Spoon into bowls, top with crema, cotija, bacon, green onions, and cilantro.

Oven Baked Goat Cheese and Cherry Tomato Beer Pasta

 

This week is a crossover, it’s a convergence of seasons and it’s my favorite part of the seasonal Venn diagram that makes up the year. We have cozy-fall-fireplace weather but we also still have summer produce in abundance. Including but not limited to the absurd amount of tomatoes in my garden that didn’t get around to ripening until this very moment after being tortuously green for about 137 months. 

The idea of having several pounds of beautiful homegrown tomatoes in my kitchen with a ticking life expectancy countdown clock kept me up at night. I wish that was a metaphor but it’s not, because I’m that strange. You also need to factor in that it’s getting colder and the summer produce needs to fit into fall dishes in order to make sense in my current world. There are a lot of things to consider when you’re slightly crazy in food-related ways. 

Then when you factor in a beer like Odells Kindling, that tastes like summer but has a name that reminds me of a late autumn night fireplace it all just falls together. Now I can sleep in my carb-induced stupor and all is right in the world again. 

 

Fresh  Homemade Beer Pasta Recipe

 

Oven Baked Goat Cheese and Cherry Tomato Beer Pasta

Ingredients
  

  • 9 oz fresh linguine pasta* not dried
  • 3 lbs. cherry tomatoes
  • 4 large cloves garlic smashed
  • 4 oz goat cheese
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • ¼ cup (2oz) good quality olive oil
  • ¼ cup (2oz) beer golden ale, pale lager, pilsner
  • 6 leaves fresh basil minced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Add the cherry tomatoes, garlic, goat cheese, salt and pepper to a baking dish, drizzle with olive oil.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the tomatoes are bursting.
  • Remove from oven, stir in the beer.
  • Add the pasta, stir until well coated, sprinkle with basil.
  • Plate, serve warm.

Notes

*You can either make the pasta yourself or you can easily buy it in the refrigerator section of almost any grocery store, it’s usually near the cheese.
If you only have dried, make sure to cook to al dente first, drain, then add to the dish. 

The Bend Ale Trail and a recipe for Grilled Beer Crust Pizza with Peaches, Burrata, and Pesto

This post is sponsored by Vist Bend. All the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Before we get to my new favorite pizza, let’s talk about one of my favorite beer cities on the planet! Bend, Oregon is a city for beer lovers, dog lovers, nature lovers,  so add it to your list, my friends. If you’re Pacific Northwest-based, it’s not more than a drive away, and if you aren’t then you obviously need a good reason to travel this way. 

Bend is a place where everything seems both exciting and slow-paced. There is a lot you CAN do, and nothing you NEED to do. Right on the Deschutes River, in the shadow of the Cascade mountains with water perfect for brewing, mountains that need to be climbed, slopes that beg to be conquered. But If you’re like me and you’re just in it for the beer drinking and the dog petting, it’s also a perfect getaway. 

My recommendations for breweries to add to your list for the aforementioned dog-petting-beer-drinking good time:

Monkless brewing. Not just for the Abby ale inspired Belgian beers (no monks required) but also for the space. GABF named it mid-sized brewpub of the year (that’s a big deal for those who don’t know), and it’s easy to see why with its river views, great food, and complex yet accessible beer. 

Crux Fermentation Project:

It’s not a conversation about Bend beer without a mention of Crux. One of the most popular spots to grab a beer in the entire city (possibly the state) because of its flawless beer, large open outdoor space, live music, food trucks, and pettable dog visitors. It’s really a must-visit. 


Bend Brewing: There may not be a better place to have a beer in the city than the edge of the river outside of Bend Brewing. The taproom isn’t super large but the outdoor space is mighty and expansive. It’s located right in downtown Bend and is walkable from the most popular part of the city. Sitting by the river with a Bend Brewing beer might just be the perfect afternoon. 

10 Barrel:

10 Barrel is a popular pub and an easy place to hang out if you can find a spot. It’s also a great place to sample the sneak peek R&D beers you won’t be able to get anywhere else while filling up on their handmade pizza. 

Sunriver Brewing: They have a beer that tastes like coca puffs. THEY HAVE A BEER THAT TASTES LIKE COCA PUFFS! All by itself Sunriver’s Cocoa Cow is reason enough to visit. It’s probably my favorite beer in Bend. It’s also a quick walk from 10 Barrel, so make this a joint adventure. 

On Tap: While not a brewery, this space is perfect to catch all the beers from the breweries you didn’t get to visit in town, all while chowing down on some food truck grub. The tap list is extensive with tons of local favorites. 

 

For my new favorite pizza, I used an IPA from Bend’s Silvermoon, a local favorite and one of the first breweries to start in Bend many (silver) moons ago. 

Grilled Beer Crust Pizza with Peaches, Burrata, and Pesto

Ingredients
  

For the Crust:

  • 2 ½ cups 300g bread flour
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons 1 envelope rapid rise yeast
  • ½ teaspoon 1.5g garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon 5g granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup 6oz wheat beer
  • ½ teaspoon 3g kosher salt
  • ¼ cup 60g olive oil

For the Toppings:

  • Olive oil
  • ¼ cup prepared pesto sauce
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 large ripe, yellow peach, sliced
  • 6-8 leaves basil sliced
  • 2 4oz balls of burrata cheese
  • ½ cup baby arugula
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze

Instructions
 

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, add the flour, yeast, garlic powder and sugar.
  • Mix until combined. Heat the beer until the temperature reaches between 120°F and 125°F (double check your yeast package to confirm this is the temperature your yeast needs. Default to the temperature listed on the package).
  • Add the beer to the stand mixer and mix on medium speed. Once most of the flour has been moistened, slowly add the salt and oil while the mixer is still running. Turn speed to high and beat until dough is smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl, tightly wrap with plastic wrap. Allow to sit in a warm room until doubled in size, about 45 to 60 minutes.
  • Preheat the grill to 500°F.
  • Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about 10-inches in diameter, add to a pizza peel covered with flour or cornmeal. Brush with olive oil.
  • Add to the grates of the grill, oiled side down. Close the lid and allow to cook until grill marks appear, use the pizza peel to remove the crust, transfer to a work station.
  • Cover with pesto sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
  • Return the pizza to the grill.
  • Shut the lid and allow to cook until the top of the crust is bubbly and starting to brown, about 6-8 minutes.
  • Remove from the grill, transfer to a serving platter, top with peaches, basil, burrata (pulled the burrata apart and distribute across the pizza), arugula, and balsamic glaze.
  • Slice and serve.

 

Mini Lime Olive Oil Beer Cakes with Hibiscus Icing

Mini Lime Olive Oil Beer Cakes with Hibiscus Icing

Are you growing something? And by that I mean produce not resentment and anxiety, although that too. I’m growing tomatoes because I decided it would make more sense to spend $80 and eleventy billion hours growing a small basket full on my own than going to the farmers market. It makes sense. 

If you are growing the things (the ones not related to early childhood trauma), do you check them every day as if by some garden fairy miracle they will have multiplied and ripened overnight? And then you’re both not surprised and also super disappointed that they look basically the same as they did the day before? Just me? 

I had to go to the farmers market for giant gorgeous raspberries in order to sublimate my self-pitty while also reminding myself that other people are better at growing the things and I should leave such tasks up to them. I should just cook the things. And eat the things. I really shouldn’t venture too far out of my cooking-eating-drinking skill set. 

I used this Mini Cheesecake Pan 

Mini Lime Olive Oil Beer Cakes with Hibiscus Icing

Servings 24 mini cakes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup lime juice 3 large limes, juiced
  • ¼ cup beer
  • 2 cups cake flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 hibiscus tea bags
  • ¼ cup boiling water
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Raspberries for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Add the eggs and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer, beat on high until well combined, light, and more than doubled in size, about 6 minutes.
  • Stir in the oil, lime juice, and beer.
  • Sprinkle with flour, baking powder, and salt. Gently stir to combine.
  • Grease mini cake pans, or a mini muffin tin, pour in the batter until about 2/3 full.
  • Bake until the tops spring back when lightly touched, about 12- 16 minutes.
  • Allow to cool complete before removing from pan.
  • Add the tea bags to a small bowl or mug. Pour the boiling water over the tea, allow to steep for 15 minutes, discard the bags.
  • Add the powdered sugar and vanilla to a mixing bowl, add half of the hibiscus infused water, stir to combine. Add the remaining water a bit at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  • Pour a bit of icing over each mini cake, top with a raspberry

Notes

I used this Mini Cheesecake Pan but a mini muffin tin will work as well, just start checking for doneness at 12 minutes. 

Cuban Sandwich Sliders with Beer Pickled Peppers and Onions

Cuban Sandwich Sliders with Beer Pickled Peppers and Onions

Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve made sandwiches for a crowd? Yes, yes you do. Of course you do! Because you’re a human, with eyes, who has also been a party to the past 18 months of existence in this crazy world.  We are now entering the "it’s possible that we will have the need for food to feed a crowd" phase of this post-apocalyptic world. Which is certainly something to celebrate.

You can make pulled pork just for this sandwich, but you can also intentionally make too much next time you pull pork as an excuse to make these, which is how they came into my life. I was making tacos, as you do, and decided that I would just make as much as I could possibly manage to fit into one pot. It happens. 

I did decide that pulled pork must absolutely be made in giant batches and is unequivocally the best leftover food on the planet. Sorry Thanksgiving, but you are now second in my leftovers book, but you have pie so you’re still the overall winner. 

Recipe for Beer-Braised Pulled Pork 

Cuban Sandwiches with Beer Pickled Peppers and Onions

Ingredients
  

For the peppers:

  • 12 oz of IPA beer
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbs sugar
  • 2 Tbs salt
  • 1 Tbs black peppercorns
  • 4-6 sprigs fresh dill
  • 1 lbs small sweet peppers, sliced
  • 1 red onion sliced

For the sandwiches

  • 12 dinner rolls sliced into buns
  • ¼ cup brown mustard
  • 1 lbs. sliced ham
  • 1 lbs. pulled pork
  • 4-6 slices swiss cheese
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions
 

  • In a pot over medium-high heat add the beer, vinegar, sugar, salt and peppercorns. Bring to a simmer, stirring just until the sugar and salt dissolve, remove from heat.
  • Add the peppers to an airtight container, add a few sprigs of dill.
  • Add the onions to a separate container, add a few sprigs of dill.
  • Pour the cooled brine over the onions and the peppers, making sure all vegetables are submerged.
  • Chill for at least 24 hours prior to using.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Add the bottom portion of the buns into a baking dish. Spread with mustard.
  • Top in an even layer with ham, pulled pork, peppers, onions, then cheese.
  • Place the top on the buns, brush with melted butter.
  • Place another baking dish on top of the buns, press down firmly. Keeping the second pan on top of the buns, place the entire thing in the oven.
  • Bake until the cheese has melted, about 12-15 minutes.

Notes

 

Salted Beer Caramel and Stroopwafel Ice Cream Sandwiches

Salted Beer Caramel and Stroopwafel Ice Cream Sandwiches

I wanted to make Stroopwafels from scratch because that sort of thing makes me excited. So I read recipe after recipe after historical articles of the origins of these things because obviously, I know how to party. 

Then I came to my senses and realized I didn’t really need to buy (and store) a Stroopwafel iron for the one or two times a year that I would actually make them. I did briefly wonder if I knew anyone who might own one in the Seattle area from whom I could borrow. I don’t. Because clearly, my friends are more normal than I am. 

But if you do see me one day and I have purchased such an iron because I absolutely NEEDED to make Belgian Ale Stroopwafels for a Christmas cookie exchange, feel free to shame me vigorously. I will obviously deserve it. 

Salted Beer Caramel and Stroopwafel Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ingredients
  

For the salted caramel:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar*
  • ¼ cup IPA beer
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon flakey sea salt
  • 6 tablespoons butter

For the ice cream:

  • 1 cup heavy cream divided
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • ¼ cup sugar

For the sandwiches:

  • 8 Stroopwaffels

Instructions
 

Make the caramel:

  • Add the sugar, cream of tartar, and beer to a large heavy-bottom saucepan, stir until the sugar is dissolved, stop stirring.
  • Boil until a dark amber, about 8 minutes, swirling the pan occasionally if hot spots develop.
  • Remove from heat, stir in the heavy cream, vanilla, salt and butter until melted.
  • Add to a storage container, allow to cool until room temperature.

Make the ice cream:

  • Add the milk, vanilla, and cream to a pan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently until the milk starts to bubble around the edges. Remove from heat.
  • Add the yolks to a mixing bowl with the sugar. Stir until well combined.
  • Slowly add the milk mixture while whisking continuously.
  • Pour back into the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk constantly until the mixture has thickened slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
  • Add to an airtight container, stir in ½ cup caramel sauce. Refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours.
  • Add to an ice cream maker, churn according to manufactures specifications until a soft-serve consistency (in a KitchenAid ice cream maker, this takes about 15 minutes).
  • Transfer to a freezer container, freeze until set, about 2 hours.
  • Add generous scoops of ice cream in between two stroopwafels, sandwich them together.
  • Freeze until ready to serve.

Notes

*cream of tartar is optional but it does prevent crystallization, if grainy caramel has ever been an issue for you.

Almond Cake with Beer Caramelized Pineapples and Hibiscus Whipped Cream

Almond Cake with Beer Caramelized Pineapples and Hibiscus Whipped Cream

it’s officially Cake For No Reason Season. We did the thing a few months ago where we gave up things in January (after we ate all the things during the holidays) then we worked out a little so we feel better, and now we don’t have anything to celebrate so we make Cake for No Reason Season, which would be a reason and the paradox may implode the universe.  

But I’ll have cake and beer, so I don’t think I’ll notice. And if the world ends because of cake and beer, then the world had it coming and I can live with that. I didn’t make this cake with a hazy IPA, but I did eat it with a hazy IPA, (Mother Earth’s Flawless Imperfection) because the pairing of an IPA and pineapple is fantastic and worth a celebration all on its own. 

Almond Cake with Beer Caramelized Pineapples and Hibiscus Whipped Cream

Ingredients
  

For the pineapple

  • ½ cup (120g) pale ale beer
  • ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
  • 2 cups (300g) fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch pieces

For the cake

  • 1 ⅔ cups (200g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (90g) almond flour (not almond meal)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup (180g) full-fat sour cream
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup (120g) good quality olive oil
  • ½ cup (120g) pale ale beer
  • 1 cup (90g) sliced almonds

For the whipped cream:

  • 2 hibiscus tea bags
  • ¼ cup (60g) boiling water
  • 1 cup (140g) Heavy cream
  • ½ cup (60g) Powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Add the brown sugar and beer to a saucepan, stir to combine. Add the pineapple, simmer over medium-high heat until pineapple is soft and the sauce has thickened about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, set aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Spray a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray, line the bottom with a round of parchment paper, set aside.
  • Add the flour, almond flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, and salt to a large bowl, stir to combine.
  • Add the almond extract, vanilla extract, sour cream, eggs, olive oil, and beer, stir with a fork or whisk until just combined.
  • Add to the prepared pan.
  • Place the pineapple on top in an even layer (it will sink, that’s OK).
  • Drizzle with the caramel sauce left in the pan.
  • Top with an even layer of almonds.
  • Bake until the top has turned golden brown and the center springs back when lightly touched, 32-38 minutes.
  • While the cake cooks, start the whipped cream. Place the hibiscus tea bags in a small bowl or mug, pour over the boiling water. Set aside to steep for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.
  • Stir the hibiscus-infused water into the heavy cream, chill until cold.
  • Once cold, add to the bowl of a stand mixer along with the powdered sugar, beat on high until stiff peaks form.
  • Once the cake has cooled, remove from pan, add to a serving plate, top with whipped cream just before serving.