Labor day Recipes PART 1: Let us cook with BEER !

I should tell you what you need in a basic kitchen. But, since it is Labor day I want to give you some recipes first. The nitty gritty stuff can come in later.

Labor day to most people means PARTAY! To me, it just means barbecue, watermelons, sweet cobblers, corn on the cob, hot dogs -- well you get the picture. So, what if you were invited to a Labor Day Picnic and they tell you to bring something? Will you just bring the usual beer or pie from Boston Market? ( I don't mind, they are YUMMY!) But, if you want to impress your friends, wouldn't you want to cook something?

Since beer is a Plenty this time around. I would suggest cooking with it. ( Hey, its an available ingredient! WHY THE HELL NOT?!) So, here are a few COOKING WITH BEER recipes that I have concocted.

Beer Marinated Chicken
easypeasy
Things you need:
4-6 pieces Chicken Breast or Quarters ( I prefer Boneless or a whole chicken cut up in pieces- you can buy these at the store cut up already, but here is a link on how to cut a chicken up
beer ( your brand, I like Corona)
2 lemons
Grill Seasoning ( Chipotle, Salt and Pepper Combo, whatever is there)
tongs ( Unless you want to put your hands on the grill)
Grill ( or if unavailable you can fry it on the stove on a skillet)

HOW TO DO IT:

1.Marinate the Chicken in beer and grill seasoning for at least 1 hour ( or put in a ziploc and marinate in the fridge overnight)

2. Place chicken on hot grill and cook for about 10-20 mins.Just until chicken is tender, sprinkle some more grill seasoning. Before Getting it off the grill, pour more beer and squeeze a bit of lemon juice to it and cook for about another minute or so.

3. Serve with Barbecue Sauce or Honey Mustard. It's Delish!

Drunken Hamburgers
intermediate: some patty making and sandwich assembly

Things you need:

Beer
1 pound of Ground beef
1/4 cup soy sauce
steak sauce
3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce ( Goddamn! that was hard to spell. Lea and Perrins)
grill seasoning OR salt and pepper
crumbled smoked bacon/ham bits ( cook bacon til crispy and crumble them)
1 egg white
HOW TO DO IT:

Patty Making ( WASH YOUR HANDS FIRST!)

1. Defrost Ground beef ( If it is frozen ) and drain. Place in a big bowl. Mix in half cup of beer soysauce,3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce, grilled seasoning (or some salt and pepper), some steak sauce (or a bit of tabasco if you like things hot).

2. Mix with your hands. Knead it well until all ingredients are mixed in. Then leave it for about an hour or so. let all the flavors sink in. (overnight is ok too!^_^)

3. Add eggwhite and smoked bacon bits to the mix and mix well. Grab a handful of the mix, and roll into a ball, then squish into patties.

4. Cook on a grill or non-stick pan ( if you dont have it, a pan that has about 3 tbsp of vegetable or extra virgin olive oil will do) for about 5-10 minutes or until juices flow out and burger is browned. Add a swish of beer 3 minutes before taking it out of the pan/grill.

5. Serve with hot buns and condiments and enjoy!


Beer Marinated Terriyaki Pork/Beef Skewers
Easy: Little Skewering Needed

Things you need:

1 pound pork/beef (cubed for skewering- you can ask your butcher to do so or find them in packages at the store)
beer ( your brand, I like Corona)
wooden/metal skewers
1 cup soysauce
1/2 cup 7 up or sprite
1 cup barbecue sauce/marinade
Ground Black Pepper
1 tbsp honey
Hot sauce (to taste)
onions/green or red bell peppers

HOW TO DO IT:

1. mix together the soysauce, honey, barbecue sauce, 7-up or sprite, some ground black pepper , and about 1/2 cup of beer (or more) and tabasco or hot sauce (if you wish) til all the ingredients mix together. Place the cubed meat into it and marinate it for at least an hour.

2. Place meat in skewers with some cut onions or bell peppers ( In my honest opinion, onions are the best!)

3. Grill them until they are medium well to well done, brushing them with the marinade as they cook. add a bit of beer before taking them out or squeeze some lemon juice on top.

4. Serve with rice or french fries. Get a cold beer and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy those. Tommorow, or later if i still feel like typing, I will do some desserts, coolers and sidedishes to accompany your feast.

ITADAKIMASU!