Cooking with Beer

Day 20

You find it dark in here?  You may also read this entry on The Man Blog.

Men have the misfortune of having the worse reputation between the two genders. (or four if you include the gays and the lesbos, but that’s a totally different story altogether). They say the average man only sits around in the couch doing nothing but to watch the finals of a ballgame, with a hotdog or any snack on his left hand and a bottle of beer on the other. They even tend to forget everything else including their wives especially when Mila Kunis is on TV. And the only way their woman can make them do household chores is if they promise to buy him beer on her next trip to the grocery.

Speaking of household chores, one activity that men would less likely indulge in is cooking. I know most guys think that cooking is primarily assigned to women and is very unmanly, but you might be surprised to know that chicks nowadays would dig men who knows how to create a dish or two, from a simple adobo to the complex kare-kare.

So how on earth can you combine men and culinary act together? Applying the simple rule of chemistry, you may consider including a catalyst onto the whole equation. One factor that can bring men and cooking together is beer. Yes, beer, the most valuable liquid second only to oil, the elixir that can make a man step on his own mother just to get one (quoted from Homer Simpson), can also be used as a primary ingredient in most delectable yet easy-to-create courses.

Without further ado, here are some recipes that you, the great homo-erectus, can easily cook even without the assistance from your ladylove: Pork Chops in Beer 

This is an easy pork chop recipe using just beer, ketchup and brown sugar. It’s simple and quite good.
Ingredients 
2 cups ketchup

• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 8 pork chops

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar and beer. Mix well and pour into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Place the pork chops over this mixture in the dish.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or internal pork temperature reaches 160 degrees F (175 degrees C). (Note: Place foil over pork chops if they start to brown too quickly.)

Fried Onion Rings

This is one batter that will go perfect with onion rings. You can also coat other veggies in this batter. Can be refrigerated or frozen, then reheated in oven or microwave. Carbonated water can be substituted for beer in this recipe
Ingredients

• 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup beer
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 4 onions, peeled and sliced into rings

1. In a large, deep skillet, heat oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C).

In a medium bowl, combine flour, beer, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth. Dredge onion slices in the batter, until evenly coated. Deep fry in the hot oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Tomato Curry Chicken

Chicken breasts baked with a tomato, beer and curry sauce; this is our very own afritada with a twist. Easy preparation with a gourmet touch and taste. Serve with sliced potatoes and drizzle sauce over the potatoes, if desired.

Ingredients

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2/3 cup beer
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can tomato sauce
  
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place chicken in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, then stir in beer, soup, curry powder, basil and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes, then pour over chicken.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour; sprinkle with cheese for last 10 minutes of baking.

Beer and Ketchup Meatballs

This one’s an easy and delicious appetizer. Perfect for parties or dinner celebrations.

Ingredients 

• 1 (28 ounce) bottle ketchup
• 24 fluid ounces beer
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 onion, chopped

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Place the beer and ketchup in a slow cooker on high setting and allow to simmer..
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the ground beef, garlic powder and onion, mixing well. Form mixture into meatballs about 3/4 inch in diameter. Place meatballs in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
4. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 20 minutes.
5. Transfer meatballs to the slow cooker with the beer and ketchup and simmer for 3 hours; sauce will thicken.

Beer Belly Shrimp

Seafood + beer = Euphoria!

Ingredients 

• 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
• 1 cup beer
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon hot sauce

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Stir well to coat the shrimp. Place in a large shallow dish and refrigerate. Let marinate for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Heat oven broiler. Drain shrimp. Thread shrimp through neck and tail onto six 14-inch skewers so that shrimp will lie flat. Place skewers on a lightly greased rack of a broiler pan.
3. Broil 5 inches from heat for 3 minutes. Turn skewers and broil for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until shrimp turn pink. Serve warm with cold beer.

These are only some of the many orgasmically-tasty, mind-blowing food preparations that you can create using beer. Dishes that are fit to be served only by an Iron chef like you! Just remember not to waste that 1/4 can of beer that is leftover.

Recipes courtesy of allrecipes[dot]com