Blueberry-Banana Beer Pancakes

Beer at breakfast just makes sense, doesn't it? Especially when that beer is cooked inside fluffy, delicious pancakes.

I had gotten Z The Craft Beer Cookbook for his birthday, and when he woke up a few Sundays ago, he suggested we make one of the pancake recipes out of the book. I was totally game, until I realized we only had a few of the ingredients both recipes called for. So, I improvised - and this beer- and fruit-filled pancake recipe was born.

Blueberry-Banana Beer Pancakes

Yields: About 10 large pancakes

-1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

-1 tablespoon baking powder

-1/4 cup granulated sugar

-2 large eggs

-3/4 cup brown ale (a pale ale would do fine here, too)

-2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

-1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

-1 banana, chopped

-1/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

-Non-stick cooking spray (or extra butter) for griddle

Directions:

1.) Preheat electric griddle to 350 degrees, or a large skillet over medium-high heat.

2.) In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar.

3.) In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and beer. Add the melted butter, vanilla, and milk, whisking until combined.

4.) Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined. Stir in the banana and blueberries.

5.) Spray a griddle with non-stick cooking spray. Drop about 1/4 cup of batter onto the prepared cooking surface. Cook until the underside has browned and the edges have started to dry, about 2-4 minutes. Flip and allow to cook until cooked through, an additional 3-5 minutes.

6.) Serve immediately with good maple syrup (and peanut butter!).

[Print this recipe]

These were the fluffiest and most flavorful pancakes I have ever made. To be honest, I've had some "hockey puck" pancake moments (like when Z and I first started dating), but over the years, I've gotten a little better. But who knew that beer would be my saving grace?

If you don't love the taste of beer, most of the flavor does cook off in these pancakes. So all you're left with is the incredible texture it brings.

Are you good at making pancakes? What's your secret?

Blue Lobster Brewing and The Community Oven | Hampton, NH

If you're heading up to the Hampton Beach area this weekend, I have two great places to recommend for pizza and beer - and they're right next door to each other.

Z and I wanted to check out Blue Lobster Brewing Company two weekends ago (after a round of mini golf, of course), but we knew we had to eat something before going in. Thankfully, right in the same plaza is The Community Oven, which serves up great brick oven pizza - as well as a few on-draft Blue Lobster beers (among others).

We decided to order the Balsamic Veggie pizza ($13.25 for a small; $17.75 for a large), which was topped with artichokes, red onions, red peppers, broccoli, and organic diced garlic tomatoes. The pie's then finished with a balsamic reduction, a blend of cheeses, and The Oven’s seasonings.

The pizza was fantastic, and we both loved the thicker, airy crust that still had a little crunch to it. The balsamic reduction was also a wonderful addition to this pizza, and gave each bite a hint of sweetness.

After we had our fair share of pizza, we walked next door to Blue Lobster Brewing. 

Blue Lobster Brewing is a nano-brewery with a spacious, comfortable tasting room. Their freshly brewed beers are available for sampling and for sale at their brewery, and I highly recommend sampling one of each of their beers - as we did.

Besides all of Blue Lobster's beers being quite delicious, Ian - one of the head brewers, along with another guy named Ian (true story) - also made our experience that much more fun. Ian is clearly passionate about his beer, and is excited to tell anyone who walks into his doors about it. Ian even showed us (and the other patrons) the back room, where they brew all of their beer. It was interesting to see how their beer is made, and it made his beer taste that much better, knowing the love and work that goes into every keg.

So, if you find yourself in the Hampton, New Hampshire area this weekend (or anytime this summer, for that matter), definitely give Blue Lobster Brewing and The Community Oven a try. I mean, what's a weekend without beer and pizza anyway? 

Have a safe and happy 4th of July! What are you doing for the holiday weekend?

Belmont Station and APEX | Portland, Oregon

This is the final recap from our four-day Portland trip. So I guess that just means we'll have to visit again, so I can post more recaps...right?

One of our favorite spots on the trip was Belmont Station, a beer store and biercafe featuring 1,201 beers (and 17 uncommon drafts).

We spent most of our time sitting and sipping in the biercafe's seating area in the back (where it's much brighter and open to outside). The biercafe offers over 20 rotating draft beers, which always features a cider and dedicated gluten-free beer tap, as well as a naturally carbonated cask-conditioned beer. On the day we visited, Firestone Walker was in town, and we got to try a vertical of Parabolas (I believe the years were 2010-2013). Parabola is one of my current favorite beers (but watch out: it's strong!), so I loved being able to compare each year side-by-side.

Belmont Station sells a few snacks to munch on, but the real treat is The Italian Market food truck that's usually parked outside. Menus are available in Belmont Station to peruse, but all you have to do is walk outside to order. Z and I split a pretzel with Cheez Whiz for dipping (naturally). It was OK, but nothing like the pretzel at Deschutes Brewery. 

If you're looking for beers to-go, Belmont Station has an impressive bottle shop adjacent to their biercafe. 

Another spot worth checking out in Portland for good beer is APEX. 

Located right across the street from Portobello, APEX was a great place to stop for a beer before dinner. We enjoyed our brews outside on their monstrous patio, which was scattered with large picnic tables.

Oh, and if/when you find yourself in downtown Portland, definitely check out Bailey's Taproom. It's a really fun spot with great beer, and there may or may not be a secret upstairs bar with even better beer options. (But you have to ask the right people to find the entrance).

In case you missed any of my other recaps from Portland, here they are:

• Brunch and beers at Bad Habit Room and Saraveza
• Vegan dinner at Portobello
• Lunch at Deschutes Brewery
• Sour beers and an epic cheese plate at Cascade Brewing

Do you have any travel plans this summer? We're actually off to Iceland the week of July 14th, then going to a wedding in Mexico in August!

Cascade Brewing | Portland, Oregon

On one of our last days in Portland, Oregon, we stopped in at Cascade Brewing Barrel House for some beers and a snack. (Clearly, we made our rounds when it came to Portland breweries).

If you enjoy sour beer, Cascade Brewing is the place to go when you're in Portland.

They've termed their Barrel House the "House of Sour," where 18 rotating taps are available for your sipping pleasure - the majority of them being sour beers.

Cascade Brewing's beers are so good that they even have a 100% score on Beer Advocate right now - an extremely rare score to achieve. 

In addition to their solid brews, Cascade Brewing Barrel House also offers a simple yet impressive menu (with recommended beer pairings to boot). We weren't super hungry when we were there, but we did manage to eat every last crumb of the Artisanal Cheese Platter ($14).

Piled high with local and imported cheeses, this was one of the more outstanding cheese plates I've had in a long time. I loved the accompanying baguette slices and large, thin crackers, as well as the medley of pickled vegetables. The slices of fresh watermelon also added a necessary sweet bite to the mix. 

Cascade Brewing also has a second location in Portland called the Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub. We didn't visit that location, but if it's anything like the Barrel House, you won't be disappointed.

Are you a fan of sour beers? 

Deschutes Brewery | Portland, Oregon

If you find yourself in Portland craving really good beer and pub food, then get yourself to Deschutes Brewery.

Deschutes is a large space with a big open bar area, as well as a separate dining room area. The large open kitchen lets you peek at what's being prepared "backstage," which is something I always appreciate. 

We stopped into Deschutes for lunch on our first full day in Portland and, since we were on vacation (and at a brewery), we started with a beer. The first beer we had was actually from their bottle list: a 22-ounce bottle of Planete Rouge ($22). (In addition to bottles, Deschutes also has 19 beers on tap featuring mainstays as well as a selection of seasonal and experimental beers developed and brewed right on-site).

To pair with their beer, Deschutes serves up an impressive offering of pub-style food. We wanted to have a lighter lunch, so we opted to split a few dishes. First up: a Brewery Pretzel ($7.75).

The pretzel was served with a creamy white cheese and Black Butte Porter stone ground mustard. Although this was a delicious combination all on its own, we also found ourselves dunking our pretzels in the honey mustard-like sauce that was on every table.

The backside of Deschute's beer menu also displays some affordable snacks that are meant to pair well with beer. We were intrigued by the Deviled Eggs ($1.50 for one egg), which were sprinkled with smoked black salt and had beer in the yolk mixture.

Z and I are both big fans of deviled eggs, and we absolutely loved these. The menu was right, too: they paired very well with beer, especially a 22-ounce bottle of Big Red ($15), which is only available at the brewery.

One of the specials on the day we went was a Ruby Ale Salad ($11), which consisted of ruby greens, grilled corn, roasted red peppers, chile roasted cashews, and Raschera cheese, all coated with a fresh-squeezed ale and pink grapefruit vinaigrette. I didn't snap a photo, but the salad was OK - nothing too special, although I loved the addition of cashews and Raschera cheese.

Deschutes also does growler fills and sells kegs to-go, for anyone who's interested. And if you have the time to stay and have a beer - whether from one of their pub-only bottles or on draft - I highly recommend it.

Bad Habit Room and Saraveza | Portland, Oregon

When a weekend-only brunch spot is attached to a craft beer bar and bottle shop, you know you're in for a treat.

A slew of people recommended Saraveza Bottle Shop and Pasty Tavern to Z and I before we left for Portland, and it's clear to see why. This place has an impressive rotating draft collection, as well as bottles to-go, and on the Sunday we were there, Firestone Walker was in attendance to pour some rare brews. Before we dipped into the beer, however, we decided to have brunch at Saraveza's next door brunch spot (and event space), called the Bad Habit Room.

The Bad Habit Room offers brunch every weekend from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Chef Matthew Simons mans the kitchen. The small restaurant - which features several family-style and smaller tables amidst exposed brick walls - features Saraveza meats, Red E Coffee (so good), and Sugar Pimp baked goods. For those who like to imbibe at brunch, they also had some great-looking cocktails on their menu.

Our brunch began with piping hot mugs of Red E Coffee, which we ended up buying a bag of before heading home. (Red E's located right behind the Bad Habit Room).

Since we were on vacation, we decided to treat ourselves to one two of Bad Habit's made-from-scratch Pop Tarts. (I didn't mark down any prices - sorry!).

These Pop Tarts were incredible. Filled with blackberry (or blueberry?) and raspberry filling, these tasted just like regular Pop Tarts - but without all of the scary ingredients. Let's just say I'm so glad Z convinced me to order two, versus share one!

For our entrees, we both went with the Breakfast Burrito. 

Stuffed with pinto beans, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, avocado, and fresh pico de gallo, this made for one hearty breakfast. 

Our burritos came with a side of chipotle cream which was fabulous with the crispy, well-seasoned potatoes. The lemony arugula salad on the side was a welcome addition to the plate, and Bad Habit's hot sauce was a fabulous addition to our burritos.

After our delicious and indulgent brunch, we walked next door to Saraveza and had a glass (or two) of Firestone Walker's brews. We sat outside at one of Saraveza's few picnic tables and sipped under the sunshine. (That is, until it began to rain...something you get used to in Portland!).

What's your favorite brunch dish? Breakfast burritos are a favorite of mine, but I also love a good egg sandwich on a bagel. 

Drink This: The Kimmie, The Yink and The Holy Gose

Yes, this title is for real. And yes, it is the name of the beer that I'm recommending to you all today. The name alone is reason enough to drink it, no?

If you're like me, beer in cans during the summer time is the way to go. (Especially since, at our house, the rule to playing any yard game is that you must have a beer in-hand...which proves difficult when holding a glass or a bottle). I've never been blown away with too many of the summer beers available in cans, but I do love this one: The Kimmie, The Yink & The Holy Gose by Anderson Valley Brewing Company out of California.

Clocking in at a low 4.2% ABV, this refreshingly light beer also has a hint of salt - which is typical for a gose. Goses possess a low hop bitterness and a bit of sharpness from salt, and this gose is no exception. The saltiness might sound counterintuitive, but it's just enough to make each sip interesting and thirst-quenching. A hint of fresh lemon helps round everything out, making this an ideal beer for sipping outside (preferably while playing Cornhole).

The Kimmie, The Yink & The Holy Gose is a limited release, so snag a few cans while you can!

What have you been sipping on lately?

Drink This: Night Shift Brewing Viva Habanera

Two things I love about living in Somerville/the Boston area: Night Shift beer and The Painted Burro.

Z and I have become regulars at Night Shift's tap room in Everett, and we've more recently discovered the beauty that is The Painted Burro. This Davis Square gem serves up some delicious Mexican food, with reasonable prices and friendly service to boot.

Last weekend, I got to combine both of my local loves at The Painted Burro's 2nd Annual Guac Off, where I was one of three judges (along with Jen Che of Tiny Urban Kitchen and Jay McKenzie, Somerville firefighter and winner of The Painted Burro’s Burro Churro Challenge). I'm the dorky one in the glasses in the picture below.

Source: Marlo Marketing/Communications

During the Guac Off, we had to sample 12 different types of guacamole - the competitors really made some interesting guac creations. Some had booze in them, others had fruit, and one had ghost peppers - grown right in the competitor's backyard. They were all really interesting and creative, but the winning guac went to Somerville local Issac Hendrickson (pictured above, with the giant check). Isaac walked away with a $150 gift card to The Painted Burro, as well as the honor of having his recipe for Granada Guacamole with pomegranate seeds featured on the restaurant’s menu.

While I was eating my body weight in guac, I enjoyed one of my favorite brews to order when I'm at The Painted Burro (and Night Shift's brewery): Viva Habanera.

Night Shift's Viva Habanera is just the right combination of sweet and spicy. This rye ale is brewed with agave nectar, which helps to tame down the spice from the habanero peppers that this beer's aged on. The habanero peppers are present in the back of your throat, but not overwhelmingly fiery, which makes this beer easily drinkable and friendly with food. Especially Mexican food - I love ordering a glass of this and sipping it alongside nachos, tacos, and/or guacamole (clearly).

Viva Habanera is available year-round (and at many local liquor stores), but if you go to the brewery, ask to get it combined with Night Shift's Taza Stout. It's like a rich and delicious chocolate-pepper party in your mouth. 

Have you tried any great beers lately? 

Drink This: Jack's Abby Framinghammer

Before I met my craft beer-obsessed husband, my favorite beers were super light ales with an ABV of 5 percent or less. But once I discovered dark, stronger beers that taste like dessert, I quickly changed gears (or, beers! Sorry...).

Jack’s Abby Brewing – located in Framingham, Mass. – is one local, family-owned brewery that fulfills my current beer cravings. Jack’s Abby’s beers are made with locally sourced ingredients when possible, and are preservative-free and unfiltered – all characteristics of a beer I wholeheartedly support.

One of Jack’s Abby’s beers inparticular – the appropriately named Framinghammer – is one of my go-to cold weather brews. This Baltic porter clocks in at 10 percent ABV, and boasts rich flavors like chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and coffee. The smooth, sultry mouthfeel is a result of a long conditioning period, and the brewers at Jack’s Abby add oats and brown sugar to the mix to enhance the beer’s silky texture.

The aroma of the Framinghammer is deceiving, as it’s roasted coffee notes don’t do the bold flavors of the brew much justice. However, every sip is convincing that this is one solid porter, which only gets better as it warms to room temperature.

The Framinghammer was released in December, and unfortunately isn’t on store shelves year-round. So, in other words, hurry and grab a bottle today! Jack’s Abby also releases several different versions of their original Framinghammer, including barrel-aged, coffee, and vanilla varieties (to name a few).

And, if you can't make it to Framingham anytime soon to try Jack's Abby's other great brews, Volante Farms in Needham gets many of the beers that are usually exclusive to the Jack's Abby tap room. (Volante's beer guy is friends with the brewers at Jack's Abby).

What’s your favorite cold weather beer? Would you like to see more beer reviews like this on The EE?

Our Wedding: The Details

So, this post is only six months late.

I just realized over the weekend that I never shared any details about our wedding with you guys, with the exception of a few (plus some photos!). We worked with some pretty cool vendors and had some unique touches to our big day that I think are worth sharing - whether you're planning a wedding of your own, are helping someone else plan their's, or you're just simply into this wedding stuff.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that made our wedding day extra special.

The dress.

Designed by Maggie Sottero - and purchased at Modern Bride in Bedford, N.H. - this dress was like wearing satin bed sheets. It was incredibly comfortable and easy to wear (without having to worry about fixing it 100 times during the wedding). My older sister actually wore a similar dress - by the same designer - to her wedding!

The flowers.

My mom and I met with a bunch of florists - who honestly could not help a bride-to-be who knew nothing about flowers - until we found Lisa from Blooming Vineyards. Lisa totally understood that I didn't know anything about flowers, but that I wanted specific colors, textures, and designs for my bouquets (and boutineers). In our first - and only - meeting, Lisa had nailed it. She actually listened to what I wanted, and put together some beautiful arrangements. We got so many compliments on the flowers alone!

Centerpieces.

I'm not a big flower girl (can you tell?), so I didn't want our centerpieces to be provided by the florist. I also wanted to keep certain aspects of the wedding economical, so Z and I decided to get crafty with our centerpieces. We picked up vases and ruby stones (they looked almost like flat marbles) from Michael's (they almost always have a 40% off coupon on their site), and my mom and I found LED lighted branches from Bed Beth & Beyond. Buying in bulk from Michael's also saves you a few bucks - just simply ask an associate how you can place an order. They were super helpful, and great to work with!

I loved the simplicity and almost organicness (that's a word now) of our centerpieces. The subtle yet apparent lights from the branches also added an elegant touch to the room. These centerpieces were also just short enough so that people could see each other (and have conversations) from across the table with ease.

Favors.

The chef at Mountain View Grand (where we got married) makes his own hot sauces, and Z and I - being the spice fiends that we are - knew we wanted to give them as favors to our guests. The chef makes two flavors, so we gave each guest one of each. We also had Mountain View create labels for the hot sauces, with one of our engagement photos on one side and our wedding date on the other. As a bonus, the chef purposely didn't make the hot sauces for our wedding until two weeks beforehand, so they would be incredibly fresh and flavorful.

The guest "book."

We had an accidental bike theme for our wedding, and I found this idea for our guest "book" on Pinterest. We provided simple instructions, two stamp pads (of our wedding colors, ruby and purple), stamps, and pens, so people could sign in or around their "balloons." It ended up being a whimsical, fun, and interactive guest book!

Card holder.

Speaking of our bike theme...my mom found this little bike at HomeGoods. It made the perfect card holder on our gift table!

Beer pairings.

Z really handled this part, but we couldn't have our wedding without craft beer. We took it one step further by pairing each of our entrees (which were all vegetarian) with a craft beer chosen by Z. Basically, Mountain View could get us any beer we wanted, as long as that beer was available in New Hampshire. Thankfully, most of our favorite brews were available - including Sofie by Goose Island, Victory Helios, and Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale, to name a few. 

The cake.

So, this cake topper isn't just a couple on a bike...it's us on a bike! The designer, Silhouette Weddings, had me send her a photo of Z's and my face profiles. Then, she designed the cake topper so the two people on the bike looked exactly like us. It's amazing how many of our guests noticed this!

One other note about our cake: Most of my married friends said not to spend a lot of money on the cake. Yeah, people see it, but really, it's not a focal point of the wedding - and if you're going to save money somewhere, the cake is a good place to do that. Honestly, I bought some ruby-colored ribbon online, and that was our "decoration." With the cool cake topper, we really didn't need much else.

And there you have it. All of the more fun details of our summer wedding. Finally! ;)

*All photos courtesy of Eric McCallister Photography.