Brews and Blues Beer and Smokin’ Blues

Guinness Bread

I had another accident in the kitchen tonight that forced me to try something different. I was in the process of making another loaf of my beer bread when I knocked over my bottle of beer that I planned to use. I had nothing left but Guinness, and Guinness would not be my first choice of beers for bread.  So, I switched up the recipe and came up with this new loaf...

Guinness Bread

3 cups self rising flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons caraway seed
pinch of salt
1 bottle of Guinness Draught
1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Add the Guinness and mix throughly.  Transfer the batter into a prepared loaf pan.  Drizzle 1/4 cup of melted butter over the top of the loaf and bake for 55-60 minutes. 

I was worried about this bread tasting too bitter, but its not bitter at all.  It's actually a very nice flavor and would be a perfect bread to serve with soups or chili. 

Beer Waffles

The saying goes.... Beer... It's not just for breakfast anymore. That doesn't mean that it can't be though....

Beer Waffles

3 egg yolks
1 whole egg
1 12 oz beer of your choice (see notes)
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 pinch of sugar
1/4 cup oil

Beat the egg yolks and egg with the beer until completely mixed.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix completely.   Bake on a hot waffle iron until done. 

This recipe makes 5 full-sized waffles...

Notes:

As with any other recipe containing beer, the choice of beer will have an impact on the flavor of the food.  I used Lost Coast Brewery's Alleycat Amber in this recipe and it was delicious.  I do, however, wish I had a bottle of the Paulaner Hefeweizen on hand.  The sweeter beer would have been even better...

Whole Wheat Beer Bread

Recipe:

1 1/2 cups of self-rising flour
1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup shredded cheese of your choice (optional)
1 12 ounce bottle of beer (nee notes below)
1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients together thoroughly in a mixing bowl. Add the beer and stir/mix completely until you have a thick batter.  Lightly grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan, and transfer the bread batter into the pan.  Spread the batter evenly in the pan.  Drizzle 1/4 cup of melted butter over the top of the batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  Remove loaf from pan and let cool completely before storing.

Notes:

The beer you choose in this recipe will have a profound impact on the flavor of the bread.  I won't discourage experimenting with this recipe though.  I chose an amber ale (Alleycat Amber from The Lost Coast Brewery & Cafe) because I'm a fan of amber ales.  Beers such as IPAs, Stouts, and Porters will contribute a more bitter flavor.  Lighter beers such as wheat beers will contribute a milder flavor.  The beer choice will also appropriately change the color of the loaf.

If you want to put cheese in this bread, pick your favorite, shred it, and add a cup to the mixture.  In this recipe, I used normal sharp cheddar.  I plan to experiment more in the future with different beers and different cheeses as well.  I think this bread would also be excellent with monterey jack cheese...

Guinness Barbecue Sauce

My culinary skills must be getting rusty. I actually let this recipe boil over by accident and I'm gonna have fun cleaning it up off the stove top...

Guinness Barbecue Sauce

1 cup Molasses (don't substitute here... use molasses)
1/2 cup Mustard (yellow or whatever you want to use)
1 cup chili sauce
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup Guinness beer (or whatever beer you like if you can't handle Guinness)

Combine all the ingredients in a 2.5 quart saucepan. Mix it up really well to get the molasses disolved as much as possible. SLOWLY (see picture above) bring the mixture to a boil while stirring rather constantly. When it comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool. If you aren't planning to use the sauce immediately, put it in a jar and refrigerate... Use this on anything that calls for barbecue sauce and enjoy a Guinness while you are making it...