Austin Beer Week: Beer Braised Bratwurst and Greens
It’s Austin Beer Week, and this meal celebrates local produce, charcuterie, and craft beer all in one pot! In this easy recipe, bratwurst and chopped onions are browned in a skillet, and then slow cooked in a whole bottle of beer for half an hour. A bunch of dark greens are added in the last 5 minutes of cooking, creating a wholesome, hearty meal with great flavors. For my version of the dish I paired peppery mizuna from this week’s local box with Independence Brewing Co.’s Sunshine Wheat, but you can use any dark green and beer combination you have on hand. (The...
Read MoreAustin Beer Week: Texas Chili Pie
I made this chili pie in support of the Rangers’ first ever World Series appearance and so far it is working! (We’re winning game one of the series as I type.) The idea for this recipe came from the concession food I liked to eat at Rangers games when I was a kid: frito pie! This healthier, non-processed version combines a spicy chili with hearty jalapeno cheddar corn bread. Pure Texan comfort food! If tomatoes and fresh beans were in season, I probably would have added them to the chili. However, this version will satisfy the most picky Texas Chili enthusiasts since it...
Read MoreAustin Beer Week: Bootlegger Cupcakes
I was a little skeptical when I first considered cooking with Indy’s Bootlegger Brown Ale because, truthfully, its deep caramel flavors in are too heavy for me to drink. I DO love Independence Brewing Co.’s use of local art on their labels, however, so I really wanted to feature this brew, with the label design created by Austin muralists Blue Genie Art Industries. These cupcakes pair dark beer and dark cocoa, creating a rich moist cake without a heavy beer flavor. In fact, the caramel in the Bootlegger Ale enhances the chocolate. Yum! For the cake I used Dave...
Read MoreAustin Beer Week: Beer Crepes with Apple Ale Syrup
Beer before noon is usually against the rules, but it’s worth making an exception for these crepes, which incorporate two different beers brewed in Central Texas. I made these for brunch yesterday with my sister and her husband. He’s a microbrew afficianado and she’s pregnant & craving beer, so I know they would love this recipe. Mom, don’t worry– the alcohol is all cooked out in the finished product; your future grandbaby is safe and well-fed! For the crepes, I followed the recipe for beer pancakes from Allrecipes.com, using Shiner Hefeweizen in the...
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