The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook

How is that for a title to my blog?? Actually it is the title of a cookbook authored by John Schlimm. John Schlimm is the great-great-grandson of Peter Straub, who founded the Straub Brewery in the 1870s. I had the good fortune to meet John today at a cooking demonstration and sampling of three of his recipes. Not only did I get to sample some of his recipes, I got a copy of his cookbook "The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook". And, I might add he graciously autographed it. How cool is that???

I found John to be a very intertaining speaker and an obviously accomplished "beer chef". The recipes he made today were "Beach Party Punch", Blazing Hot Wing Sauce, and Blue Cheese Dip. They were all great. Oh and the punch.....let me just run down the ingredient list for you: rum, vodka, amaretto, gin, beer (of course), Sprite, orange juice, pineapple juice, and ice. WOW....it REALLY packs a punch!! (No pun intended!!).

The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook lives up to it's name....there is 27 chapters. John has recipes for any and all occasions. His recipes range from appetizer, breads (one of which I will be making tomorrow), soups, salads, vegetables, sandwiches, poultry & eggs, pork, freshwater fish, seafood cookies, pastries, ice cream, chuggers, shots & shooters, chasers, milkshakes, and beer on fire. In fact, one of the recipes in the "Beer On Fire" chapter is called the "Burning Bush"--(I don't think he means George W) and it goes like this:

1 ounce Hot Damn 1/2 glass beer 1/2 glass apple cider

Pour the Hot Damn into a shot glass. Pour the apple cider and beer into a tall glass. Light the shot on fire and drop it into the glass. Making SURE that the flame is extinguished, chug.

Use extreme caution with the fire!!

As you can tell, John Schlimm has a great sense of humor and I thourouly enjoyed his talk!

Also at the bottom of every page or two John has a quote so I will put one at the bottom of this blog:

"Some guy is claiming that a tonic of beer and urine will improve your garden. Come on if that was true, wouldn't frat houses be like tropical rain forests?" --- Jay Leno