time to start another year of Flamingo Foodie Cooking Adventures.

We've been eating a lot of soup lately, because its that "time of year" and I just happen to love all manner of soups and stews and breads and I am thankful that my husband Scott and our two daughters know that I call a bowl of soup a complete meal, so long as there is some type of bread to go with it. While I'm big on a slice of bread served alongside dinner, the others are just sometimes 'meh'. And being the procrastinating artist that I am, Of course I wait until about 5 pm to come up with this idea to make some sort of bread! so my options were limited. 

Luckily, this beer batter bread is one you can whip up at the last minute. There are only a handful of ingredients, most of which I have in my house at all times except for the beer and then I have to make a 45 minute run to the next country to buy some.   Nothing like living in a DRY county!  this is a quick bread so you use yeast (because that's what the beer is for!), which also means the prep time is literally just a few minutes. A handful of dry ingredients are mixed together, and then a bottle of beer is stirred in. Transfer the batter to the baking pan, drizzle with melted butter and into the oven it goes. And best of all, when it's done baking there's no waiting for it to cool! Is there anything better than a thick slice of warm bread slathered in butter? DUH!  NO!  

You could make this bread with almost any beer you like so it's perfect to use up those random bottles hanging out in the back of the fridge. I happen to like Sam Addams beers so that is what I will find. The bread will take on the characteristics of the beer you choose so be sure to go with something you like drinking. I love that you could make this bread five times with five different beers and the result would be a slightly different flavor profile every time! Have fun.  ITs relatively quick and easy and doesn't taste at all like a beer.  Its good to eat the whole thing the same day you make you!  I bet you won't stop eating at one slice!



Beer Batter Bread
from The Williams-Sonoma Baking Book

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 (12 oz) bottle beer, at room temperature and unopened
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt together until combined. Open the beer and immediately pour it all into the bowl with the dry ingredients (there will be lots of foam, that's ok). Stir the batter until it just comes together - it's going to be very thick and a little lumpy so don't try to use a whisk here. 

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading it into an even layer. Drizzle the melted butter over the top of the batter. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and allow the bread to cool for 5 minutes before turning it out of the pan. You can cut into this bread and serve it warm or wait for it to cool to room temperature - either way, slather with butter first :)

{Note: the recipe suggested this recipe be served the day it was made, but we ate leftovers the following day too. I just popped them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to soften and warm them up.}