Beer Clams & Linguine

List to Bring With You to The Supermarket:

Refrigerated:

1 Tbsp butter

Pantry:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cans diced clams
1 Tbsp. Anchovy Paste
1 Pound Linguine

Vegetables:

4 small-medium sized Garlic cloves, minced

Spices:

1 Tbsp ground parsley + more for sprinkling
2 Shakes of red pepper flakes
Salt to Season Boiling Water

Liquor:

1/3 cup of beer (I use Lager)


Directions:

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, add 1 tbsp of salt
Saute the garlic and anchovy paste in oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat for one minute.
Stir in parsley and red pepper flakes.
Stir in clams and juice and the beer. Cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes,
sirring occassionally
While the mixture is cooking, add the linguine in the boiling water and stir constantly for 9 minutes
Drain Pasta and add the pasta to the skillet with the clams and cook for one minute, stirring to combine
Sprinkle Additional parsley on top and serve

International Great Beer Expo at the Philadelphia Navy Yard

Which statement is true:

1. I love beer.
2. I dream in beer.
3. I married a beer and have little beer babies.

Give up? OK, so I don't have little beer babies running around, but I do still love beer, especially during Philly Beer Week.

And this Beer Expo was the perfect morphine for my beer itch. Fifty international brewers filled the huge auditorium, from local brewers to Japanese delicacies. But my favorite was the Gran Met Ale from Voodoo Brewery located in PA.

And if the good looking gals and girls handing out the beer at this station weren't reason enough to bring you over, the fact that they were handing out 4 ounce samples of their 10 % beer would have you crawling back for more refills. I revisited this booth so many times, I felt as if I needed to disguise myself with beer monacles and a mustachio.

And if it is pretzels you crave, the Famous Kirby's Red Hot Chile Pretzels will not only suffice, but definitely exceed expectations. The intensities range from Mild to Four Alarm Fire. My favorite was somewhere on the hotter side, purchasing a bag of Second Degree Burn which carries a noticeable kick.

So if you missed this event this year, no worries, I'm sure this popular meeting place for beer lovers will be around next year, carrying even more vendors for you to get your drink on.

Beer Review- Philadelphia Brewing Company's Fleur De Lehigh

I Heart Beer. That's it. That's my credential. I'm not a beer genius, nor am I a beer connoisseur, you don't look to me for beer advice, rather for food wisdom. I don't just love any beer, I love specialty beers. What do I mean by specialty beers? Beer from all over the world, beer brewed in Pennsylvania, beer brewed in Germany, beer with hops, beer that excites me. Don't get me wrong, I love a good beer special just as much as the next gal, but there is something intriguing about that specialty beer store. Aisles upon aisles of beer fill the elongated refrigerators, one beer different from the next. "I wonder which meal this beer will pair well with?" I ask myself while browsing through the liquid gold.

While my sister was hosting The Bottle Shop's completely informal beer tasting party to see which types of beer to sell in her store, I came across something very light accompanied by interesting flavors that would pair perfect with the upcoming summer months. Philadelphia Brewing Company created this marvelous treat called Fleur De Lehigh (Lehigh being a county in Pennsylvania- so darn clever). As an amateur chef I immediately picked up on the notes of ginger and lemon grass infused in the brewing process. Philadelphia Brewing Company describes the beer on its website: "It was our first Select Ale and now Fleur De Lehigh is part of our regular line up for the summer months. This unfiltered golden ale is brewed with chamomile, rhubarb, ginger, rose hips, and lemon grass; then fermented with our Belgian yeast strain to provide a uniquely full flavored yet highly drinkable spring/summer brew. 4.2 % abv available in both bottles and kegs"

I highly encourage you to leave your comfort zone for a moment, shy away from the beer specials and try a beer that you may usually pass up on (if you are 21+ years of age, of course). Doing so may cause you to find a delicious beer that pairs well with my recipe for Always Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies, your recipe for Singapore noodles or with your mom's baked ziti.