It’s getting to be that time of the year. You’re starting to see decorations around town, the air has that certain crispness and everyone gathers together on Sundays to watch their favorite NFL teams fight to make it one step closer to the Superbowl. Nothing beats the Holidays! There are a few things we love most about this season, but delicious food and beer take the cake!

Here are a couple of our favorite Black Star Beer inspired recipes for the Holidays. Grab a 6-pack of Black Star and you’re ready to whip up some easy-to-make and tasty dishes to share with friends and family!

BACON & BEER GLAZED PECANS

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 TBS Kosher salt
  • 3 ½ cups Pecan halves
  • 4 Bacon slices chopped
  • 1/3 cup Black Star Beer
  • Ground Black Pepper as needed

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line a sheet pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
  3. Place brown sugar, bacon, beer, salt and pepper in saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring often. Pour in pecans and stir to coat.
  4. Spread pecan mixture on baking sheet and bake 15 to 18 minutes.
  5. Remove mixture from the oven and spread onto a sheet of foil while still warm to break up large clumps. Cool mixture to room temperature and serve in a bowl. They won’t last long.

QUICK FIX BEER BREAD

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 12 ounces Black Star Beer
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Coat an 8-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center. Pour in beer and olive oil and mix until just blended.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake 45 minutes, until golden brown.

Black Star Beer Chili

It’s that time of the year where enjoying ice cold Black Star beers while hanging out on the beach or floating the river turns into grabbing a Black Star with friends after hitting the slopes or curled up around a fire. During the Holidays we love cooking with beer, so we’ve compiled a list of two delicious recipes that even a novice chef can whip up using just one can or bottle of Black Star beer!

BLACK STAR BEER CHILI – Serves 8-10 people

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 (12 ounce) can Black Star Beer
  • 1 (46 ounce) can V8 vegetable juice
  • 1 (8 ounce) can kidney beans(mild or hot)
  • 1 (8 ounce) can chili beans(mild or hot)
  • 1 (8 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 lb ground beef(browned and drained)
  • 1 medium chopped onion
  • 1 chopped green pepper(optional or desired amount)
  • 1 (8 ounce) package chili seasoning mix (Carroll Shelby’s Chili Kit brand)
  • Garnish with sour cream or shredded cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Brown and drain 1 lb.of hamburger. While browning hamburger, empty V-8 Juice and Beer into a large stock pot, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; add all remaining ingredients, EXCEPT CHILI PACKAGE SPICES (add beef, beans, onion, green pepper, tomatoes etc.)

Open chili spice package. You will find 4 packets of different spices.  Add larger package of chili spices first and stir. Add salt packet to taste (I usually end up adding all of this one); stir. Add small cayenne pepper packet to taste (optional). If you like thick chili, follow directions on package for use of masa flour to thicken.

Continue to simmer and stir. It’s ready to eat when heated all the through. The longer it simmers the spicier it will get. My mom used to let it simmer for an hour or more when I was younger. If you decide to simmer longer than 20 minutes, after last ingredient is added, turn the heat down to low. Garnish with sour cream and shredded cheese

Now it’s time to make some of Ms. Lucy’s Lagered Cornbread to dip in your chili!

  

Ms. Lucy’s Lagered Cornbread

Makes 8 pieces

INGREDIENTS:

  • 8 oz. of Black Star Lager
  • 1 cup medium-grind cornmeal
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup self-rising flour
  • 3 tablespoons dried buttermilk powder
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 F. Mix lager and cornmeal in a glass dish, cover with plastic wrap, microwave on high heat for one minute, and set aside to cool (cornmeal will absorb the beer). Sift salt, flour, powdered buttermilk and sugar. Whisk together the egg and cooled cornmeal, add melted butter and mix again.

Stir into the sifted dry ingredients until just blended (do not overmix, or cornmeal will be tough). If the batter seems too stiff, stir in another tablespoon of lager. Grease a 9×9 baking pan liberally with butter.

Pour batter into the pan, and place pan on middle rack of preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cornbread is browned and cooked through. To test, insert a wooden toothpick in center of cornbread – when it comes out clean, it is done. Remove from oven and let cool.

Crack a Black Star beer and enjoy your scrumptious creation!