Honey Beer Bread

I have a lot of business to discuss with you all today in this very special group post.  I have a great recipe and yes, we have a fantastic giveaway.  Today's event is being hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen of Juanita's Cocina. They teamed up with their blogger friends to help raise awareness and support for Cancer and Hospice today in memory of Kim's dad. We encourage everyone to read the posts and share their own experiences with cancer. We also would like to encourage everyone to donate to the Canadian Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society and also to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. Hospice was a key element during Kim's father's battle with cancer. They made it possible for Kim to care for him at home. So please show your support and donate if you can. You can also contact your local Hospice and donate directly to them if you wish. A little goes a long way!

I struggled a bit with what to make for this event because, unlike heart disease, the link between cancer and food is more tenuous.  Kim wanted us to share personal stories but, the stories I have are not mine to share.  This disease has touched many who are close to me or close to people I care about.  In every one of those cases the disease struck without known risk factors.  Some ended with remission, others were taken from us much too soon.  But even those whose stories ended well moved into a new life group - survivors.  Winning warriors in a battle they would rather not have fought, with a history they'd rather not have had.  It's bittersweet.  And that is what finally led me to share this particular recipe with you today.

When I tell you that I don't like beer, you'll wonder what possessed me to make beer bread.  Well, it all started with a photo on Pinterest that led me to a blog called Cookie Monster Cooking and this tempting looking bread with the crunchy top.  I couldn't help myself and I rationalized that, I love beer battered onion rings so maybe I'll like this, too.  Yes, I know the onion rings are deep fried, don't mess with my warped train of thought here.

Although Brian is not a big beer drinker, he does like an occasional cold brew so I knew he wouldn't object to the flavor.  So, did I learn to love beer?  Um, no, but Brian liked it.  He said it tasted like a good beer bread.  I'd hoped that baking would tame the beer flavor quite a bit more than it did but that doesn't change the fact that this was a good recipe.  If you don't object to beer, you will absolutely like this bread.  In the end, between the beer and the honey, the bread is distinctly bittersweet.  And that, I thought, was actually the perfect type of recipe for this event.  Enjoy and see below for links to the rest of the great recipes from the other participants and details on entering the givaway.

Ingredients
(Slightly adapted from Cookie Monster Cooking)

Bread:
3 Cups all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 Teaspoons salt
3 Tablespoons honey
1 bottle (12 oz.) of your favorite beer
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

Honey Butter:
1 Stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 Cup honey
Dash of salt, to taste

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add the honey and beer and whisk just until everything is combined.  Pour the batter into a buttered and floured loaf pan and our the melted butter over the top.  Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 50 - 60 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a cake tester comes out clean.  Let cool slightly before removing from the pan.  Makes approximately 10 servings.

To make the honey butter, combine the ingredients in a small bowl and mix until everything is thoroughly incorporated.  Spread on the sliced bread for a wonderful afternoon snack.

Check out the other great recipes from our group:

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Home-made Strawberry Topping by Cravings of a Lunatic

Chili Verde by Juanita's Cocina

S'Mores Brownies in Jars by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

Dark Chocolate and Orange Muffins by The Dutch Baker's Daughter

Boston Cream Pie by Pass The Sushi

My Fathers Day Recipe Round Up by Curry and Comfort

Tropical Smoothie by Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

Mini Gugelhupf by Masala Herb

Sauteed Strawberry and Sugarsnap Salad by Cook The Story

Cranberry Cashew Breakfast Muffins by In Fine Balance

Arugula Salad with Sundried Tomatoes and Mushrooms by Crazy Foodie Stunts

Spicy Beef Sliders by Katie's Cucina

Thai Red Curry Soup by Damn Delicious

Suman (Sweet Rice and Banana Leaves) by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Fresh Vegetable Salad by White Lights on Wednesday

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sundae by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen

Cinnamon Chip Cookie Butter Bars by The Messy Baker

Berry/Cherry Fro-Yo Ice Cream by Cookistry

Honey Beer Bread by Hungry Couple

Cinnamon-Chocolate Chip Pancakes by The Spiffy Cookie

Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars by Sweet Remedy

Cookies and Cream Brownies by Cooking in Stilettos

Blueberry Lemon Cake by Roxana's Home Baking

Angel Cake by Ninja Baking

Knit (or crocheted) Grey Brain Cancer Mustache Pin by Knit, Purl, Damn!

Enter for your chance to Win an Artisan® Series KitchenAid®  Stand Mixer in the color of your choice (there are 26 to choose from) as well as an Ice Cream Maker Attachment. A sweet choice for all,  this creative attachment features the largest ice cream bowl capacity in the industry. Prepare 2 quarts of ice cream, sorbet, gelato or other frozen desserts. We're pleased to announce the giveaway is open to Canadian residents, as well as U.S. Residents. Winner will be chosen and announced during the pinchatlive event, described below. Winner will also be notified via email and has 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond another winner will be chosen. 1 Stand Mixer and 1 Ice Cream Attachment are being given away as a group, not 1 per blog just to be clear for our readers. 

There are bonus prizes for the pinchatlive event. We are giving away 1 Vanilla Infused Gift Box Set, 1 Lemon Infused Gift Box Set and a $30 Amazon Gift Card.  In order to participate in this event follow the Pinterest Board #recipesfromtheheart. Hop on the Pinterest board on June 22 at 2 pm Est to follow along. We'll ask questions and those who comment are entered to win the bonus prizes. There will be a G+ Hangout on Air during the event as well. Winners of the pinchatlive event must be Canadian or U.S. residents. Visit Facebook.com/KitchenAidCanada and click on the “More than a Mixer” tab to explore all 12 attachments available for the KitchenAid® Stand Mixer.