Beer Candied Pecans

last September I was able to visit Bear Republic. I was able to jump behind the bar, chat with brewers and sample everything from the Peter Brown Tribute to the Grand Am, right from the source. Solid beers that are becoming easier to find across the US as their distribution expands.

Maybe it was the gorgeous Northern California setting, or the charming bar managers, or the fantastically solid beer, but I became a fan of what this growing team is doing up North. And then they go and make a Black IPA, one of my favorite new styles.

Black IPA’s are becoming more common, a great trend that craft breweries are embracing all over the US. Maybe as a way to satisfy people like me, stout lovers who also adore an IPA. A hoppy beer, with a roasted malt that adds a smooth, balanced, nearly stout like flavor. The Black Racer IPA is a great example of this growing beer phenomenon.

Black Racer is just as hoppy as you want an IPA to be, but with a smoother, rounded malty finish. It has a leaning towards a traditional IPA, with high notes like citrus and pine as well as a fairly high carbonation, but with some dark beer flavors of malt and coffee.

Black IPA’s are both a great example of how the creativity of brewers are blurring the lines of beer styles, as well as another great, endless craft beer debate we all love to partake in from time to time. How do you differentiate between a hoppy stout and a dark IPA? Brewers discretion?

When it’s this good, they can call it what they want and the brewers will always have my full support.

Beer Candied Pecans

Ingredients

1/2 cup black IPA
1 cup golden brown sugar, packed
½ tsp salt
1 tbs butter
2 cups pecan halves

Directions

Preheat oven to 250.
In a pot over high heat add the beer and brown sugar. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
Clip a candy thermometer on the side of the pan. Bring liquid to 235 degrees, remove from heat.
Add the butter, stir until combined.
Add salt and pecans; stir until the pecans have all been coated.
Pour pecans on to a baking sheet that has been covered with a silicon baking mat (or parchment paper that has been sprayed with cooking spray).
Spread pecans evenly over the sheet.
Bake at 250 for 15 minutes, stir and bake for an additional 15 minutes (if the pecans look foamy, stir until the bubbles have dissolved).
Allow to cool to room temperature, break apart.

Notes

To increase the beer flavor, reduce 1 cup of beer down to 1/2 cup needed for this recipe.

http://thebeeroness.com/2013/03/27/beer-candied-pecans/

IPA Lemon Bars

Before I get to the lemon bars that were more than a year in the making, I need to talk about these beer glasses.

These glasses are more than just vessels of craft beer glory, they are a indicator of the thread of craft beer weaving itself through the mainstream.

Crate and Barrel, a mecca for the upwardly mobile, midwestern tract homeowners, and suburban housewives is carrying an entire line of glassware devoted to the service of well-made beer. (I need to stop to note that none of the previous descriptors were meant to be derogatory, merely an illustration of the mainstreamness of the giant housewares retail store.)

This is proof that craft beer is moving forward, growing in respect and popularity in the minds of Americans and capitalist marketers. I couldn’t be happier. I pillaged the entire line, necessitating a new shelf just for beer glasses.

The lemon bars I made for you have been in the works for over a year. There have been other recipes in the past that haven’t lives up to my expectations. The filling wasn’t creamy enough, or the crust and filling weren’t distinct layers, or other assorted issues. This recipe finally gave me the results I wanted.

A great crust with a slight flakey crispness, not too sweet, and lemony with the right touch of beer flavor.

The beer I used is from Eagle Rock Brewery, a brewery that is just down the road from me, a little over a mile in fact. It would be walking distance if it wasn’t for the hill I live on and the nasty walk home that would create.

Populist is what I think of as a gateway IPA. It’s an accessible beer with more malt that an IPA usually gives you, and a balanced hop flavor. This isn’t the palate wrecking, massively hopped flavor that most American IPA’s give you, it’s more subtle.

I love a high hoped beer, and I also love a malty balanced pale ale, the amazing thing about this mainstream-craft-beer-glass-world we live in is that there is room for both types of IPA’s. If you aren’t an IPA fan, this might convert you, it shows you hops without punching you in the mouth with them. It might even lead you to further IPA exploration.

Or maybe just some lemon flavored baked goods.

IPA Lemon Bars

Ingredients

Crust:

1 cup flour
1/3 cup powdered sugar
6 tbs unsalted butter
pinch salt

Filling:

3 large eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
¼ cup flour
2 tbs corn starch
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ cup IPA beer
Powdered sugar for dusting
Yield: 10 to 12 cookies

Directions

In a food processor add the flour, powdered sugar, butter and salt. Process until well combined.
Press into the bottom of a greased 8X8 pan (for a 9x13 pan, double the entire recipe).Chill for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350.
Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool to about room temperature, about 15 minutes (this will help the crust and the filling to stay in two distinct layers.)
In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar, flour and corn starch. Add in the lemon juice and beer, stir until combined. Pour the filling over the cooled crust. Bake until the center has set, about 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before refrigerating. Chill for 2 to 3 hours before cutting. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

http://thebeeroness.com/2013/03/19/ipa-lemon-bars/

Crust adapted from Shockingly Delicious

Green Beer Cheese Soup (Broccoli Cheddar) with Pesto Croutons

I promise you that this is the last St. Patricks day post. Until next year when I will further assault you with recipes for celebrating my love ‘o the Irish, and forcing you to read more stories of my visit to Dublin.

Until then, here is a Green Beer cheese soup that contains not a drop of food dye, relying on the natural pigment of broccoli to get the job done. Although I don’t know who’s to blame for fouling up beer with green dye, I can’t imagine the Irish, with their deliciously dark stouts, are to blame. I’d wager the fault goes to America. No matter how you choose to celebrate, green beer-food just feels festive. I just wish I had some shamrock shaped soup bowls for the occasion.

To up the Irish in this dish, I used Kerrygold Dubliner cheese. I’ve been using Kerrygold for years, and not just because I have a soft spot for Ireland. Kerrygold uses natural, sustainable methods, uses co-op farmers, grass fed cows and zero artificial colors or flavors. While at a pub in Dublin, I met the son of a sheep farmer. We talked for hours about farming (I also grew up on a farm) and even when he wanted to change the subject to his love of Eddie Murphy, I kept steering the conversation back to farming in Ireland. Irish farmers are unlike any farmers I’ve ever met. Because the herds are always small, due to land limitations, the relationships between farmer and animals is unusually devoted and affectionate. Although Kerrygold is readily available at most grocery stores, it has a small farm feel to it.

Even if you do end up throwing in some green food dye to up the color, I hope you love this soup as much as I do, and raise your pint to Ireland.

*This is not a sponsored post. I actually feel this way.

Green Beer Cheese Soup (Broccoli Cheddar) with Pesto Croutons

Ingredients

For The Soup

3 cups broccoli florets, chopped
4 tbs unsalted butter
½ large sweet onion, finely diced
I large carrot, peeled and diced
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups wheat beer or pale ale
2 tbs cornstarch
7 ounces Dubliner cheese, grated (or sharp white cheddar)
8 ounces gouda, grated
1 cup vegetable broth
1/3 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste

For the Croutons:

1 French baguette, cut into cubes
2 tbs butter
2 tbs pesto

Directions

In a large pot of lightly salted water, cook the broccoli until very soft, drain and set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium high heat, melt 4 tbs butter. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until the carrots are very soft, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, cook for about 30 seconds, remove from heat.
In a large food processor or blender, add 1 cup beer, cornstarch, both kids of cheese and as well as the carrot and celery mixture, process until very smooth, about 5 to 8 minutes. Return mixture to the pot along with the remaining beer.
In the same food processor (no need to clean between jobs) add the broccoli and the broth, process until very smooth. Add pureed broccoli, as well as the cream, to the soup.
Bring the soup to a low simmer, stirring occasionally until warmed and slightly thickened.Salt and pepper to taste.
In a skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tbs butter. Add the bread cubes and toss until browned. Remove from heat and immediately add in the pesto, toss to coat.
Serve the soup topped with croutons.

http://thebeeroness.com/2013/03/07/green-beer-cheese-soup-broccoli-cheddar-with-pesto-croutons/

Buffalo Chicken Beer Cheese Dip

This needs to be made with an IPA.

The buffalo sauce (which has to be Franks, let’s just get that out of the way) needs a big kick to the face. The only beer up for that job is an IPA.

I made this with Ballast Point’s Sculpin, one of my favorite IPA’s on the planet, and as with so many great IPA’s, it’s made in California.

After all, we have Ballast Point’s Sculpin, Russian River’s Pliny, Bear Republic’s Racer 5, Stone’s Ruination, Drake’s Aroma Coma, and AleSmith IPA.

No offense to the rest of the world, but if you love your hops, the West Coast is a great place to be.

But maybe you don’t like hops. The mere thought making you want to wash your mouth out with a pale lager.

Before you decide, definitively, I dare you to have a blind IPA taste party.

Get a bottle of every beer on the above list (this will be much easier for my West Coast friends), pour them, taste them.

And don’t forget to invite me. I’ll bring the dip.

Yum

Buffalo Chicken Beer Cheese Dip

Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

2 tbs olive oil
3 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into small pieces
8 oz sour cream
16 oz cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup Parmesan
3/4 cup Mozzarella, plus ½ cup mozzarella for top
1/3 cup Franks Red Hot Sauce
2/3 cup IPA beer
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbs cornstarch
½ cup blue cheese crumbles

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350
Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat, add the chicken and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
In a food processor, add the sour cream, cream cheese, Parmesan, 3/4 cup mozzarella, Franks Red Hot, beer, garlic powder and cornstarch, process until well combined, about 5 minutes.
Pour into an oven safe dish. Stir in chicken pieces, sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
Bake until warm and cheese is bubbly, about 15 minutes.
Remove from oven, sprinkle with blue cheese and serve warm with chips.

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Beer Cheese Wontons

This recipe has nothing to do with Thanksgiving.

I love Thanksgiving, really. It’s my favorite holiday, due in no small part to the fact that it is a day devoted to a gluttonous love of food. And no presents are exchanged. I’m not sure what it is about those present exchanging holidays that makes me nervous. I’ve never been a girl who is comfortable with receiving gifts. I love to give them, completely love it. But having someone watch me open a gift, I can’t help but feel completely self conscious about my reaction which I assume to be sub-par.

I know. If you haven’t noticed, I tend to over think things.

Which makes my love for Thanksgiving FAR exceed any feelings I have for Christmas. I get to make significantly more food than will ever be consumed, and no one will be attempting to decipher my reaction as I peel away the wrapping of a hand selected present.

Starting sometime in the next 36 hours, I will start preparations for the following dishes: This turkey, These rolls, this Mac n Cheese, something similar to this pie, and this pie too. As well as about 6 other dishes that will create a disgusting surplus of food.

And then, we will all be back to making football food, like portable beer cheese dip.

Beer Cheese Wontons

Ingredients

4 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 tbs corn starch
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 cup beer
1/2 tsp sriracha
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
24 wonton wrappers
2 tbs green onions, chopped
1/4 cup canola oil

Directions

In a food processor combine the first 9 ingredients (everything except the wonton wrappers, green onions and the oil), process until well combined.
One at a time, place the wonton wrappers on a flat surface. Using your fingers or a pastry brush, wet the edges or the wrappers with water.
Place about 1 tbs of filling in the center of the wrapper. Sprinkle green onions on top (about 1/4 tsp).
Fold wrapper over to create a triangle, press the edges together until very well sealed. Brush the bottom of the triangle with water and fold the corners into the center and press into shape.
Heat oil in a pan over medium high heat until hot but not smoking. Adjust heat to make sure it does not get to the smoking point, or the wontons will burn.
Carefully add wontons to the hot oil, cooking until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.
Serve immediately, wontons will get soggy if they sit.

http://thebeeroness.com/2012/11/20/beer-cheese-wontons/

Beer Battered Mini Corn Dogs with Chipotle Ketchup

This my friends, is how you do Football Food.

It meets all of the requirements to earn a spot on the Football Food Table.

These vague and unenforceable requirements include qualities like: fun, as high calorie as possible, no utensils or plates needed, ability to sit at room temperature for hours, AND there are always bonus points for including beer.

I also want to tell you a little bit about Chipotle Ketchup. Corn dogs need to be dipped, and if we are all willing to adhere to the good ‘ole American tradition of dunking fried stuff in ketchup, I want to doctor it up a bit. Although you can make ketchup from scratch, and don’t think I haven’t filed that idea away in my mental recipe stockpile, I just used store bought. Chipotle is a lovely flavor, one of my favorites.

The smokiness is beautiful. If you just want smoke and no heat, just add 1 tsp of smoked paprika to 1 cup of ketchup and stir to make yourself a little smokey ketchup to go along with your fancied up deep-fried treats.

Yum

Beer Battered Mini Corn Dogs with Chipotle Ketchup

Yield: 24 mini corndogs

Ingredients

canola or peanut oil for frying
1 cup flour (plus 1/4 cup, divided )
2/3 cup corn meal
1 tbs brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 egg
3/4 cup plus 2 tbs beer (I used an IPA)
24 mini hot dogs
24, 4 inch wooden skewers or toothpicks

For the Ketchup

1 cup ketchup
1 chipotle peper in adobo sauce
1 tsp adobo sauce

Instructions

Pour oil into a pot, about 3-4 inches deep. Clip a cooking thermometer onto the side. Heat over medium high heat until the oil reaches between 350 and 375, adjust heat to stay in this temperature range.
In a bowl, combine 1 cup flour, corn meal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, stir to combine. Add the egg and the beer, stir until combined.
Pour the batter into a tall coffee mug, this will make dipping the corn dogs easier.
Skewer all of the mini corn dogs with wooden skewers. Put remaining 1/4 cup flour in a bowl. Roll the hot dogs in the flour, then brush off any excess flour.
Holding the skewer, dip the hot dog into the batter until submerged and coated. Slowly place the battered hot dog into the oil. Allow to fry in the oil until a dark brown, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a stack of paper towels to drain.
To make the ketchup, place all ketchup ingredients in a small food processor or blender and process until smooth.

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I used these bamboo skewers.

IPA Cherry Tart

To be honest, I haven’t always loved IPA’s. It took me a while, although not as long as resolving my mint aversion, and now I can pretty firmly place myself in that Hop Heads category I used to shy away from. I discover that a dry hopped IPA gives me the delicate flavors of the hops that love, that are lost without the dry hopping process. I also found myself lurking on the Home Brew Talk website in a creepy way that usually lands someone in a face to face interview with Chris Hansen.

If I was going to homebrew, jump feet first into the mash tun world, I’m not sure if an IPA would be first on my list. My love of stouts would probably pull me in that direction first. But once I made it around to an IPA, it would most definitely involve dry hopping. And possibly Sriracha.

It’s probably a good thing I don’t homebrew, sounds like I’d waste a lot of money on crazy ideas.

IPA Cherry Tart

Ingredients

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
3 cups sweet dark cherries, pitted (I used Bing Cherries)
2 tbs corn starch
1/2 cup IPA
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.
Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a tart pan with a removable bottom, press into shape, remove excess. If you don't have a tart pan, cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, place puff pastry in the middle, fold about 1 inch of the sides inward to form edges. Place puff pastry in the fridge until ready.
In a pot over medium high heat, add the cherries, cornstarch, IPA and sugar. Allow to boil until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
Remove pastry from the fridge, prick all over with a fork, make sure the holes are small. Brush with lightly beaten egg.
Pour the cherries into the tart.
Bake until the pastry has turned golden brown, about 20 minutes.

http://thebeeroness.com/2012/10/25/ipa-cherry-tart/

Beer Braised Chicken Tacos with Beer Corn Tortillas

When it seems like your entire life revolves around a food blog, small things make you really excited.

Like making homemade tortillas with beer and realizing how much better they are than any other tortilla you’ve ever had.

Or getting a shout out from The Cooking Channel as if they knew just how to fuel your obsession with them.

Or realizing that because Foster Farms is willing to fly you into Napa a few days early for the National Cook-Off Finals, you get to visit the following breweries: Laguanitas, Russian River, and Bear Republic.

And then your Aunt tells you that your Grandma and Guy Fieri’s Grandma where roommates in college, which sounds like a Mad Lib, but turns out to be true.

Small wins that make me so excited, you’d think I won a Beer Cooking Oscar. This is what keeps us playing the Man Behind the Curtain on these little blogs we are so dedicated to. Bloggers are easily excitable, which maybe why we spend so much time on the other side of these computer. Sometimes our excitement isn’t fit for public consumption.

Back to these tortillas. Homemade tortillas are a completely different animal from those cardboard disks they sell in supermarkets. Soft, slightly sweet, and they only take 5 minutes to make. To use a beer analogy fit for an SAT exam:

Coors Light is to Pliny as Store Bought Tortillas are to Homemade Tortillas

I’m not kidding, that much different. If you don’t believe me, and really, why should you, I’m just the overly excited girl behind the screen, try it and report back. I really think you’ll be amazed.

For this recipe, I used Lagunaitas IPA. And like I’ve mentioned before, IPA’s give you a huge punch of beer flavor. If you want a milder beer flavor, grab a traditional Pale Ale, a Blonde or a Wheat Beer.

Beer Braised Chicken Tacos with Beer Corn Tortillas

Ingredients

For the Tortillas

2 cup Masa
½ tsp salt
1 1/4 cup room temperature beer
2 Tbs melted butter (or olive oil)

For the Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken thigh fillets
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tbs olive oil
1 cup beer

Recommended Garnishes

1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 avocado, chopped

Directions

Chop Chicken thighs into small, bite sized pieces. In a bowl, place all spices and mix well. Add the chicken pieces and toss to coat.
Heat olive oil in a dutch oven. Add the pieces and sear quickly. Reduce heat, add beer, cover and cook until cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes.
In a large bowl, add the Masa and the salt, stir to combine.
Add the beer and butter, stir to combine. If the dough is too dry to hold together, add additional beer or water. If it is too wet, add more Masa.
Form into balls a bit larger than golf balls.
Prepare a tortillas press by wrapping in plastic wrap or covering with parchment paper (you can place tortilla ball between two sheets of parchment and use a rolling pin). Place one ball in the center.
Press, rotate and press again until thin.
Heat a griddle (or cast iron skillet) to a medium high heat (about 350 for electric griddles).
Cook until slightly brown on the bottom (about 30 seconds to a minute) flip and cook on the other side. Don’t overcook.
Fill tortillas with chicken, garnish and serve.

http://thebeeroness.com/2012/09/13/beer-braised-chicken-tacos-with-beer-corn-tortillas/

IPA Ceviche

As summer nears it’s inevitable end, it’s not the weather that I’ll miss the most. In fact the leather boots and chunky sweaters of colder days are starting to beckon. The produce, back yard grills, the smell of life and food floating on a late afternoon breeze will be lost in the dawning of fall.

This isn’t a recipe about avoiding the oven, or grumbles of triple digit heat, it’s about enjoying August produce, paired with those Summer release beers and spending as much time as you can in the open air before we’re all forced to head inside, cook with squash, and drink stouts. Which I am already looking forward to.

IPA Ceviche

Ingredients

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1 1/2 lb raw shrimp, shell & tail removed, chopped
1/2 cup IPA Beer
1 yellow onion diced
3 cups tomatoes, diced
1 large jalapeno, diced, stem and seeds removed
1/2 cup cilantro
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp red pepper sauce (such as Sriracha)

Directions

Add the lemon/lime juice and raw shrimp to a small bowl. (Shrimp will "cook" in the juice as it marinates.)
Mix beer, onion, tomato, and jalapeño in a large bowl, allow to marinate in the fridge for at least one hour.
Drain the vegetables and return to large bowl.
Once the shrimp have "cooked," drain and add them to the large bowl along with the salt and pepper sauce, toss to combine.
Serve cold with corn chips.

http://thebeeroness.com/2012/08/21/ipa-ceviche/

Brewed Mary: Beer Bloody Mary

No offense to vodka, but a Bloody Mary just tastes better with beer. And an IPA is the inarguable choice for a Brewed Mary. I am, for the most part, a live and let live person.

Happy to let your differing opinions thrive right alongside mine. There are recipe choices that I would love to debate with you. I’ll take your suggestions of a pilsner over a Saison for a beer cheese dip. And I would love to debate with you Brown Ale versus a Hefeweizen for a chicken pot pie.

But with this, we have no choice, an IPA is just the best way to go. The hops blend so well with the heat and the tomato juice.

If you disagree with me, I just hope you keep it to yourself. After all, I still want to like you, and we can always spar over porter versus stouts for brownies.

For this recipe, I used Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA. At the moment, it is one of my favorite beers, and quite possibly my favorite IPA.

Note: Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies. For vegetarian, use a vegan Worcestershire sauce like Annie’s Organic Worcestershire Sauce.

Yum

Brewed Mary: Beer Bloody Mary

Yield: 2 cocktails

Ingredients

1 cup tomato juice
1/2 tsp celery salt (plus additional for glass rims)
1/2 tsp Chipotle Tabasco sauce
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp brine for a jar of spanish olive
1/4 tsp cream style horseradish
1 tbs lime juice (about 1 medium lime)
1 tsp lemon juice (about 1/2 medium lemon)
1/2 tsp black pepper
Ice
1 cup IPA beer
Optional garnish:
celery stalk, olives

Instructions

Rim glasses with celery salt.
Add all ingredients (except the beer) to a shaker half full of ice, shake to combine.
Strain into prepared glasses, stir in the beer, garnish if desired.

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Jalapeno IPA Hummus

This recipe has been in my brain for a while.

For weeks it’s been taunting me, begging to be flushed out, poured into my food processor and immortalized in internet print.

And this weekend three failed attempts to make IPA lemon bars that never really gave me the results I was hoping for coupled with this tweet:

gave this hummus it’s shot.

And I’m so glad that the stars didn’t align and the beer cooking God’s didn’t smile upon the IPA lemon bars (which have become my culinary nemesis, mocking me with vague imperfections) because this hummus was exactly what I wanted on a hot day. It didn’t last long.

For this recipe, I used one of my favorite IPA’s, Ballast Point’s Sculpin IPA. A beautiful example of an IPA, even if this one was sans Habaneros.

Jalapeno IPA Hummus

Ingredients

2 fresh jalapenos, stemmed, seeded and chopped (about 1/4 cup)
3 tbs tahini
1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 tbs olive oil
1 lime, juiced (about 1 tbs)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup IPA Beer (plus additional if needed)

Directions

Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth. Add additional IPA for a thinner dip. Serve with pita or chips.
*Note: most of the heat from Jalapenos are in the seeds. If you want a hotter hummus, you can leave the seeds in. If the finished dip is too mild, add 1/4 tsp chili powder for a spicier dip

http://thebeeroness.com/2012/07/19/jalapeno-ipa-hummus/

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Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Beer Cheese Dip

(Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Beer Cheese Dip)

There are a few ingredients that I have to restrain myself from adding to everything I make. On that list are the following: Sriracha, bacon, goat cheese and roasted garlic.

As you can clearly discern, beer is not in that line-up. Because I never try to hold back the urge to add beer.

Two of those four ingredients did manage to coerce their way into this dip, bulldozing my yearning for variety with their seductive culinary appeal. Roasted garlic is an amazing substance.

Once you start to roast your own and realize that with less than a dollar and 5 minutes of active time you can create the most addictive and flavorful ingredient with your own hands, you may come to understand why I was powerless to resist.

On a side note, I served this dip at a party and was all at once horrified and flattered to find a guy I barely know licking the bowl. I’ll take that as a good sign, and a validation for submitting to the powers of roasted garlic.

For this recipe, I used Saison du BUFF, a joint effort from Stone, Dogfish Head and Victory breweries. A Holy Trinity of Craft Beer splendor that produced a Saison Messiah to lead us into the new world of craft beer glory. It is out now, try and get your hands on a bottle, while you can.

If you can’t get your hands on the Saison du BUFF, I’ve also really loved this with an IPA.

Yum

Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Beer Cheese Dip

Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

2 large heads of garlic
2 tbs olive oil
12 oz cream cheese
1 1/2 cup Reggiano or Parmesan cheese, plus an additional 1/4 cup for top
6 oz smoked Gouda or smoked mozzarella cheese
1 cup Saison or IPA beer
1 tsp red chili sauce (such as Sriracha)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbs cornstarch (very important. Keeps the dip from separating)
1/4 cup chopped scallions (green onions)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425.
Cut the top tip of each head garlic off, just enough to expose all of the cloves. Place each head on a separate piece of tin foil. Drizzle with olive oil and seal the foil around the garlic.
Place both garlic packets on a baking sheet or baking dish. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Reduce oven temp to 350.
In a food processor, add the cream cheese, 1 1/2 cup reggianno, gouda, beer, red chili sauce, salt, pepper and corn starch. Squeeze the roasted heads of garlic until the soft cloves comes out, add the roasted cloves to the food processor, taking care that none of the papery garlic skin is added to the food processor. Discard the empty garlic head. Process until well combined.
Add to a baking dish, top with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
Bake at 350 until melted and the top has started to turn a light golden brown, about 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven, stir (it will have puffed slightly) top with green onions, serve warm.

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Strawberry Beer Sorbet

Everything I love about summer is in this dish.

Or, more accurately, everything I love about summer that can fit into a small metal bowl are in that dish.

Fresh produce.

Homemade sorbet.

Beer. Of course, beer.

And when I was buying said beer, Alesmith Anvil, I had an interesting conversation with Beer Store Beer Guy.

For the most part, I really like my chats with Beer Store Beer Guy so much that I forgive him when he makes the assumption that I have no idea how I ended up in the Beer aisle and he must point the poor lost girl back to the Chardonnay section where she has most likely wander off from. I’m ok with this, the trapping of being tall and blonde and with the egregious mistake of having a brain in my head, I find it amusing. Like when I end up at the mechanics and they have no idea my step dad was ASE certified, or those adorable guys at Home Depot who try to point me back to the paint isle when I really want to buy a new blade for the tub saw so I can finish re-tiling the kitchen floor. The greatest advantage anyone has is to let others underestimate them. I’ve come to find it endearing when Beer Store Beer Guy, Hardware Store Guy and Mechanic Guy try to take care of the lost girl and help her find her way. Because what I really want to be is Marisa Tomei in the last court room scene in My Cousin Vinny saying things like,

“‘Cause Chevy didn’t make a 327 in ’55, the 327 didn’t come out till ’62. And it wasn’t offered in the Bel Air with a four-barrel carb till ’64. However, in 1964, the correct ignition timing would be four degrees before top-dead-center.”

And you can really only have that once someone decided to underestimate you.

Something else you shouldn’t underestimate is the flavors in the Anvil. It may seem like a strange choice for this sorbet, giving the matlier, toastier flavors but I love the balance it gave.

Choose a beer that has notes of citrus, fruit and spice. A citrusy IPA would be a great choice as well.

And don’t be offended when others underestimate you, use it to your advantage.

StrawBerry Beer Sorbet

Strawberry Beer Sorbet

Ingredients

4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
1 cup sugar
2 cups beer (pale ale with notes of citrus)

Directions

In a sauce pan over medium high heat, add the strawberries and the sugar. With a potato masher, or mallet, smash and stir the strawberries until well macerated and combined with the sugar.
Allow the mixture to come to a boil, stirring and mashing until all the strawberries have broken down, about 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, stir in the beer and allow to cool. (If you want to strain the pulp and seeds, do so now. I didn't strain.)
Place the strawberry mixture in the refrigerator until completely cool, about 2 hours.
Churn in your ice cream make according to manufactures specifications. Place in a freezer safe container and chill until ready to serve.

http://thebeeroness.com/2012/06/26/strawberry-beer-sorbet/

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Beer Soaked Chocolate Covered Cherries

Last week I was able to sit down with a guy, who in just two years went from a home brewer who was opening the doors to his first bar, to owning three bars and the fastest growing craft brewery in California.

If you live in Los Angeles, and you’re a craft beer fan, I’m certain you have heard of Tony Yanow of Golden Road. If you haven’t you are going to want to acquaint yourself with him and what he’s building. Here is my article for your craft beer research indulgence.

He is also the man who helped create one of my favorite IPA’s. Golden Roads, Point The Way IPA.

As I’ve hammered into you several times before, IPA’s make terrible cooking subject, which is why I rarely use them. This is a recipe that doesn’t require cooking, and the tart hoppiness of the IPA is a great compliment to the cherries.

And, as a salute to my fellow beer lovers who happen to be vegan (more vegan beer fans exist than one would expect) this is an easy recipe to veganize.

IPA Soaked Chocolate Covered Cherries (vegan option)

2 cups fresh Bing cherries, pitted

1 cup IPA

8 oz Dark Chocolate (60%) (For vegan, use vegan chocolate. Most higher end brands are vegan at 60%, but make sure to check if you want to make sure)

Pit the cherries and add them to a loaf pan in one tight layer. Pour the IPA over the cherries and allow to soak at room temperature for 2 hours and up to 6. Drain and allow to dry for about 20 minutes (they need to be dry before chocolate gets involved).

To temper the chocolate: (*Note. Tempering chocolate makes it shiny and gives it a nice snap. If you don’t care so much about that, you can just add the chocolate to a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir and repeat until melted)

In a double boiler melt the chocolate over medium heat. If you don’t have a double boiler, add a metal bowl over a pot of water, making sure the bottom of the metal bowl does not come in contact with the water in the pot.

Chop the chocolate into chunks and add about half to the top of the double boiler. Heat the chocolate to 115 degrees (use a clip-on candy thermometer to do this). Add the rest of the chocolate and stir until all of the chocolate has melted and is now down to about 90 degrees.

A few at a time, add the cherries to the chocolate with a fork, roll around until coated, remove with the fork and allow to drain a bit, then place on a piece of parchment paper to harden. Repeat for all cherries. Chill until ready to serve.

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IPA Marinated Citrus Pork Chops With Peach Poblano Salsa

A really well crafted IPA is a beautiful thing,but this is the style that is most often poorly done. The art of balancing a hop forward beer delicately with its subtle back notes is an art that only a few persistent pros seem to be able to manage. The well crafted, well balanced IPA is an incredible art, that takes the dedication of a thoughtful and persistent brewer to really ace.

I present to you Stone Ruination. It is a Masters level education on how to do the IPA right. Seek it out if you adore the Indian Pale Ale, or even if you tend to avoid it. That’s how you make an IPA.

IPA Marinated Citrus Pork Chops With Peach Poblano Salsa

For the Pork Chops:

1 cup IPA (Stone Ruination Preferred)

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp salt

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp agave

1/2 tsp Sriracha

4 bone-in pork chops (about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick)

3 tbs olive oil (plus additional if needed)

For the Salsa:

1 cup chopped fresh yellow peaches (about 1 large peach)

1 cup chopped red bell peppers, stem and seeds removed (about 1 medium sided pepper)

2/3 cup chopped poblano pepper, stem and seeds removed (about 1 large pepper)

2/3 cup chopped red onion (about 1/2 of 1 large onion)

1/4 cup chopped green onion

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbs IPA

1/4 tsp chili powder (add more for a spicier salsa)

In a large bowl or baking dish, combine the IPA, lemon juice, salt, agave, garlic and srirach, stir to combine. Add the pork chops, turning to coat. Place the bowl (or baking dish) in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for 30 minutes.

Add all of the salsa ingredients to a bowl and toss to combine.

In a pan over medium high heat, add the olive oil and allow to get hot but not smoking. Add the pork chops, cooking one or two at a time, don’t crowd the pan. Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes. You want them to still have a slight hint of pink still in the center, pork chops go from undercooked to overcooked really quickly, so keep a close eye on them.

Plate, and top with salsa. You will have more than enough salsa for the chops, serve the excess in a bowl with chips.

Beer Popsicles: Lemon Pale Ale

As summer heats up, so does my longing to add beer to everything I consume. I linger on the idea of changing classic recipes into beer recipes far longer than my busy day should allow. How would I add beer to a Tarte Tatin? What about an Blueberry pie? Or Eggs benedict? What beer would I use? Although I get lost in recipe development several times a day, it tends to make a long commute on a Los Angeles freeway that much more bareable.

Due to recent move, I’ve been a bit handicapped by my lack of access to a familiar kitchen and all of my culinary tools. I’m slowly working my way back to feeling normal, that slight feeling of alien unfamiliarity when I get home has begun to subside and my subconcious is starting to accept that the new place that I sleep, is now my home.

Beer popsicles are a fun addition in any adult party. You can play with flavor combinations (strawberry basil, orange jalapeno, blueberry lime) or just use plain ‘ole untouched beer. If you have little ones around, make sure to keep these labeled well and separated from the kiddie ones. If you are worried about a tiny human being handed the wrong flavor, use colored popsicle sticks for the kids and plain boring wood ones for the grown ups. You can buy popsicle sticks, colored and plain at most craft stores or on Amazon. This is the popsicle mold I used, but just about any hollow vessel will work.

I used Pike Brewing Naughty Nellie for these. With flavors of hops, grapefruit and citrus, it gave a sour punch that I really loved. This is a recipe that can take a hoppier beer because there is no cooking involved. Experiment with your favorite pale ale, you have a summer full of back yard barbecues to get it just right.

Yum

Beer Popsicles: Lemon Pale Ale

Yield: 6 popsicles

Ingredients

1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 4 large lemons)
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup pale ale or IPA

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a pitcher or measuring cup with a spout, stir until sugar has dissolved.
Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 6 hours.
Run molds under hot water until the popsicles release.

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Strawberry Beer Lemonade

Summer is almost here. Barbecues, lazy afternoons on the porch swing, long days at the beach, music and card games on the patio until dawn. I realize that a fridge full of craft beer doesn’t always please the masses, but I do want to impart those flavors that are so beautiful anyone can enjoy them, into nearly everything that comes out of my kitchen.

This is my version of an adult punch, a tasty crowd pleaser that will likely introduce your non-beer loving friends to the beverage that you have come to adore.

For this recipe, I used Beautiful Blonde by Knee Deep. With flavors ranging from citrus to grass, it gave this punch a textured tartness with unexpected flavor notes.

I really enjoyed the way the berries and citrus were complimented by the earthier tones of this beer, bringing it together as a well-composed beverage with only a few simple ingredients.

Take some care in selecting a beer for this recipe, looking for a Blonde Ale, or an American Pale Ale with low hops and notes of citrus.

Strawberry Beer Lemonade

Yum

Strawberry Beer Lemonade

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

2 cups strawberries, hulled and chopped
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup fresh squeeszed lemon juice
1 large bottle blonde or pale ale (1 pint, 6 oz)
Ice

Instructions

Add the berries, sugar and lemon juice to a pitcher. Allow to stand at room temperature for 10 minutes for the sugar to dissolve and the berries to begin to break down.
Add the beer and ice, stir to combine.
Adjust the lemon and sugar to taste.

Notes

*Tip: If you don't want the punch to become watered down by the ice, use frozen strawberries in place of ice cubes.

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IPA Sweet Potato Mash

IPA’s make difficult cooking subjects. The bitterness is high maintenance. But then a beer comes along that is just so worth the effort of figutring out how to work those flavors into my food.

Like Le Freak, by Green Flash Brewing out of San Diego.

It’s a non traditional American IPA meets Belgium style IPA. Not your run of the mill hoppy beer. I love this. LOVED it so much, I drank it mid-morning as I was cooking up this little dish for you all. And, it turns out, sweet potatoes are an amazing vessel for hops. Or maybe the other way around.

IPA Sweet Potato Mash

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 4 cups)

2 tbs butter, chopped into cubes

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 cup pecans

1/2 cup Green Flash by Le Freak

Preheat oven to 400.

Place your chopped yams in a large loaf pan, sprinkle the top with cubes of butter. Drizzle with the maple syrup, then the beer and then top with the brown sugar.

Bake, uncovered at 400 for about 40 minutes or until the yams are fork tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool a bit. Drain off most of the liquid (leaving about 2 tbs in the bottom of the pan). Sprinkle with nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt then mash with a potato masher until creamy, add the pecans and stir.

Serve warm.