Welcome
I am constantly amazed at how animated and talkative people get when you mention food. The mere aroma of certain foods can evoke memories that transport us back to a special place and time. Food can bridge the gap between all ages, races and ethnicities.
Let's face it, the only thing that should ever come between people is a table and some serving bowls.
I often crave a good fish fry and I especially love mine done in a really good beer batter but I think I have found something that actually works better. While on one of my recipe hunts I came across a batter for fish that uses a can of 7-Up. The more I thought about it I realized this was a great idea even more so than using beer. The carbonation has always been a key component in getting that light puffiness that you look for in a good beer batter but what the beer does not give you is.....sugar and lots of it. That is where the 7-Up fits the bill brilliantly. It has enough carbonation to ensure that it puffs up but it also has a very high sugar content to create a caramelized crispiness that you don't quite achieve using the beer. Plus the lemon lime flavoring actually imparts an interesting flavor dimension to take your normal fish fry to a whole new level.
7-Up Fish Batter
1 egg
1 c. pancake mix
8 oz. 7-Up (approximately)
additional pancake mix
Fish filets of your choosing, also works well with shrimp, scallops or clams.
Mix egg, pancake mix and 7-Up together well. Dip thin fish fillets, which have been coated with pancake batter (shake both in plastic bag) and chilled about 20 minutes in mixture. Remove 1 at a time and deep fry for 4 to 6 minutes at about 400 degrees. Remove onto paper towels to drain.
We take for granted just how easy some foods are to prepare ourselves. It seems that we are so conditioned to automatically purchase certain foods pre-made at a supermarket or by taking a quick trip through a drive thru. I started to think about this when a friend of mine asked me to pick up some frozen onion rings at the supermarket to have with dinner, I said you are kidding those aren’t even real onion rings. They are just minced onion and mostly bread crumbs. I told her I would just make the onion rings, she looked shocked. You know how to make onion rings (like it was some mysterious government secret) I said yes and they are really easy to make and taste a lot better than anything you’d get from a store or drive thru not to mention how much more you would get for a lot less money. So I proceeded to make the onion rings as she watched looking at me like I was some great magician. As soon as she took her first bite she never wanted store bought or drive thru again.
It really is silly the money we waste on certain foods just to save a little time, we get so little and spend so much for what? I think taking the time affords us more in our lives and it sure as hell tastes a lot better when we do.
Beer Battered Onion Rings
1 1/2 cups of flour (pancake mix also works well)
1 1/2 cups of beer, active or flat, cold or at room temperature (Guinness makes for a really rich tasting batter and color but any beer will do).
3 lbs of Bermuda onions, Vidalia or any variety that you like
4 cups shortening or oil
Salt to taste (it's best to salt them right when they come out of the fryer)
Combine flour and beer in a large bowl and blend thoroughly, using a whisk. Cover the bowl and allow the batter to sit at room temperature for no less than 3 hours. Twenty minutes before the batter is ready, preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place brown paper from grocery bags or layers of paper toweling on a jelly roll pan. Carefully peel the papery skins from the onions into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick slices.
Separate the slices into rings and set aside.
Heat electric frying pan to 375 degrees and heat the cooking oil. With metal tongs, dip a few onion rings into batter. Then carefully place them in the hot oil. Fry rings, turning them once or twice until they're an even, delicate golden color. Now transfer to the paper-lined pan. To keep warm, place them on the middle shelf of the oven until all the onion rings have been fried.
photo courtesy of Theoildrum.com
Beans and beer? Sounds like we are headed into dangerous territory here, we all know the effects of beans and we all know the effects of beer. This recipe could have environmental effects of a global proportion. All the more reason to make a double batch and share it with friends and family, people who know each other and love each other through good smells and bad.
The funny part is, even given the obvious effects of the two key ingredients listed in this recipe people are going to make it, love it and pass it along (get it? Pass it along). What a toot………oops, I really did mean hoot (pardon me).
Drunken Beans
2 lbs. pinto beans (may use any bean that you like)
1- 12oz can of beer (any)
4 to 6 bell peppers, chopped (may throw in a hot pepper if you like things spicy)
2 large tomatoes, chopped (may used canned)
2 medium Onions, chopped
Cook beans in 8 cups of boiling water for 10 minutes than lower to simmer and cook for 1 and 1/2 hours, stir occasionally. Then add beer, chopped peppers, cut up tomatoes and onions, add to beans and cook on low for another 45 minutes then serve.
I have always loved using beer batter when I make onion rings or fried fish; it’s always so light and flavorful. Well you should see the wonderful effect beer has on biscuits. The yeast and hops in the beer cause these biscuits to be so tender and fluffy that they just melt in your mouth. I was amazed at the results not to mention the flavor. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
Beer Biscuits
4 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
8 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup shortening
12 oz. can beer, room temperature (any)
Sift flour, salt and baking powder; cut in shortening. Add beer and knead 10 times; roll out 1/2 inch thick. Use 2 inch cutter and bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.
