Disclaimer: I have received compensation for this post, but hello? We all know how much I love beer and that I won't drink a beer I don't like. All opinions are my own. I love beer. If you follow me on instagram, you know that there is no question of that. I am also a huge fan of DuClaw Brewing. They are relatively local (in Baltimore) and they make one of my favorite beers - Sweet Baby Jesus. I like that beer so much I made cupcakes with it. But, here's the thing, I'm a dark beer girl. I love my porters and stouts and wee heavies, etc. So, each summer, I struggle with finding beers that are tasty and refreshing and not my usual heavy choices. When I was asked to review these beers, I was unsure of whether I would like them, but … [Read more...]
RNR DC Weekend Recap
This weekend was crazy: crazy fun, crazy cold, crazy stressful, crazy busy. No boring here this weekend. I'm linking up with Tara over at Running 'n' Reading for my weekend recap. … [Read more...]
Three Things Thursday
1. I could never be a food blogger. Beer Geek and I went to an amazing beer and food pairing dinner at Mad Fox last night. The beers, as I expected, were amazing. But the food. Oh, the food. The chef went with a BBQ theme - we had jerk chicken wings and lamb and baby back ribs and... Oh. My. Goodness. I don't like a lot of what he chose to make and yet, it was an incredible meal and the beer paired in a way I'll never be able to re-create at home. (Not with my mediocre cooking skills anyway.) So, it was this incredible, wonderful, beautifully presented meal - and I didn't take a single picture. Oops. 2. Another picture fail: yesterday was crazy hair day at the boys' school. Shoo told me at the last minute that he wanted … [Read more...]
Slump + WIAW
I don't like summer. There. I said it. I sometimes feel like the only person on the planet who could happily live someplace where the temperature never goes above 75 degrees. I just don't like being hot. And let's not talk about the Virginia humidity. Gross. I struggle every year at this time. Just as we are hitting the time where I'd like to spend all of my time sitting directly in front of my AC vent, my kids get out of school. I love my kids, but having to work to keep them active and entertained at precisely the moment when I am struggling to force myself out of the AC is not a good thing. It doesn't help that a) most of their friends go to all day camp since both parents work full-time, b) there is no neighborhood pool, … [Read more...]
2 things Thursday + Pin It Party
1. I'm finally feeling normal. I took naps three days in a row this week, which is pretty much unheard of for me. But they weren't optional. My body pretty much said "Sleep. Now." So I did. Yesterday I finally went out in my Kinvara 4's and ran a fast for me 4 miles. I did it as speed intervals and ended up doing 4 miles in under 40 minutes. Woot! 2. This weekend I'm racing again. I have a 5k on Saturday night and a half marathon on Sunday morning. I can't decide how fast I can go in the 5k and still have a decent half on Sunday. Is it bad that the only reason I want to race (as opposed to run) the 5k is to make sure I run it faster than my boss? Pretty sure that won't get me a raise... 3. And, just for fun, I'm joining … [Read more...]
WIAW: The Beer Dinner Edition
Every year we donate a dinner to our sons' school auction. It's a four course beer and food pairing dinner. This was our fourth year and I have to say it may have been the best yet. The food turned out perfect, the beers paired near perfectly and the company was awesome. This year's food and pairing: Cheese Course Beers: Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA and Flying Dog Doggy Style Pale Ale Cheese: A blue cheese, St.Andre Triple Creme, Kerry Gold aged cheddar, and chipotle gouda The blue cheese paired particularly well with the pale ale and the gouda was amazing with the IPA. Soup Course Beers: Legend Brown Ale and DuClaw Black Ale Soup: Butternut Squash topped with bacon and swiss cheese (I have an amazing recipe. … [Read more...]
WIAW #2: The Beer Dinner Edition
You knew it was coming. As soon as I start blogging about food, you KNOW I'm going to start talking about beer. If you are a friend on Facebook, you know I had "breakfast" for dinner (scrambled eggs, sausage, and toast) with a Starr Hill "The Gift" to drink one night. Yes, I do believe there's a beer for every meal. ;o)But this wasn't just any dinner with beer. This was the annual beer dinner that I donate to the kids' school auction. This year was a rockin' success if I do say so myself LOL.All ready to go. Every beer had it's own glass. And yes, I do own that many beer glasses.We started with a cheese platter paired with Port City's Pale Ale. (I totally forgot to take a picture.)Salad … [Read more...]
2nd Annual Craft Beer Dinner
In spring, we donated a "Craft Beer Dinner" to the annual PTA fundraiser/auction at Jones' school. Saturday was the first date that all three couples who won could make it. Each couple paid a pretty penny to come to the dinner, and while I realize they did that mostly to support the school, I felt more than a little bit of (internal) pressur to provide a really good dining experience.I decided to go with all Virginia beers. I ROCKED this dinner. Seriously.First Course: Cheese + Pale AleWe started with a Starr Hill Pale Ale paired with an aged cheddar, brie, and trugole. The brie was "meh", the aged cheddar was good, and the trugole was not only amazing, but a perfect pairing for the beer. … [Read more...]
Pork with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce
This is the recipe I used for my beer tasting dinner this year. I followed the recipe pretty exactly and personally felt like it was a bit too much cream. I think I would have liked a more intense chipotle flavor. *Recipe adapted from The Best of American Beer and Food Ingredients: 4 pounds pork tenderloin, 2-3 pieces ( I actually made 6 pieces) 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon dried thyme 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 bottle brown ale 1 cup heavy cream, warmed 1/2 cup Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce Preheat ovent to 375*. Rub pork with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and thyme. Heat olive oil in heavy, oven proof skilled or Dutch oven over medium high heat … [Read more...]
Beer me!
How convenient that a "recovery" week and a busy week preparing for our little dinner party fell in the same week. I've been crazy busy, but in a good way. I'm probably about to bore most of my readers, but I need to write this someplace I won't lose it. If we do this again next year, I'll want notes. ;o) Glaven, please get a towel to wipe up your drool, ok?AppetizerThree cheeses (an Irish aged cheddar, a gruyere and a tallegio), red grapes, almonds, and cashewsBeer: Black Sheep Ale poured in a British style pint glassSaladMixed greens with mini mozzarella balls, toasted walnuts, vidalia onion, and prosciutto with a peach vinaigretteBeer: Dogfish Head Festina Peche poured in a pilsner glassDinnerGerman sausages cooked in beer and … [Read more...]
