Basic Beer Bread

Cheddar - Dill Beer Bread

• 3 Cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder (fresh!)
• 12 ounces beer
• 1/4 cup melted butter

Heat oven to 375ºF.
Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder (**and optional ingredients)  in a large mixing bowl.
Slowly stir in beer and mix just until combined. Batter will be thick.
Spread in a greased 8″ loaf pan.
Pour melted butter over the top.
Bake about 45 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick  stuck in the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes.
Remove from pan and cool 10 more minutes.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

**Don’t be afraid to flavor it up with any multitude of variations. Here are some idea’s:
Herbs:  1 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon fresh. Garlic, Rosemary, oregano, thyme,  dill, chili powder just to name a few.
Cheese: 1 cup grated sharp cheddar, crumbled feta, Parmesan, Romano, Asiago
Other options: 1/2 cup chopped scallions or onion, fresh parsley, fresh basil, sun dried tomato
Replacements: in place of 1/2 cup of the flour use 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, or 1/2 cup oatmeal.

I love this recipe because it’s so versatile, quick and easy. Surely you can mix and match combination to fit with whatever you might be serving it up with.  I dig the garlic, dill, cheddar cheese version the most. Sometimes I add chili powder and bacon or infuse the melted butter with garlic before pouring it over the bread. It always comes out delicious!