Some brews, such as Guinness, shine in colder weather while others are more suited to the beachy crowd (ever seen a Corona commercial?). As per American craft beers, plenty of breweries have a summer seasonal in their arsenals, but these eight feature a whole slew of suds to keep you refreshed despite the heat waves (we listed our faves alphabetically).

8. Abita - Maybe it's the local swelter in which they were created, but Louisiana's Abita brews seem well-suited to any hot day, especially Purple Haze, Restoration and Strawberry Harvest -- as fruity as it sounds.

7. Bell's - Some say that spring isn't actually here until Bell's Oberon is released (a notion we far prefer to a neurotic groundhog) and their Two-Hearted Ale may be the best summer IPA in the biz.

6. Brooklyn - Sure, they offer a Summer Ale, but with year-rounds including a nice Weisse, a baseball-adorned Pennant Ale and a refreshing Pilsner, summer in Brooklyn is secure.

5. Harpoon - Harpoon has an aptly named Summer Beer made in the Kölsch style, but their UFO Hefeweizen garnished with a touch of citrus is one of the most drinkable American wheats on the market. The light, crisp Harpoon IPA is only mildly hoppy and is another winner.

Continue reading Favorite Summer Beers

We look at what has the beer blogs bubbling these days.

1. Tonight's screening of "Beer Wars" -- a "no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry" -- is generating a lot of chatter, some positive and some not so much.
2. A "documentary" from St. Louis's Schlafly Brewery is much less controversial. The takeaway? Beer is good.
   
3. Kasper On Tap mulls over the best state for suds-o-philes to live based on the brewery-to-population ratio. Mississippi, you're in trouble, with only one brewery for your nearly 3 million residents.
4. Brookston Beer Bulletin discusses Life after Anheuser-Busch, a report on what high-profile former A-B employees are doing since the company was bought out by InBev.
   
5. Rolling Rock is up for sale. Want to buy it?
6. Beernews.org has updated their Craft Beer Releases Calendar, an excellent way to see what seasonals and new releases are soon to hit shelves.
7. Lyke 2 Drink asks "Are Beer Festivals Recession Proof?" (His answer: Yes, for now.)
8. Finally, according to DRAFT Magazine, a beer at the Masters only cost $2! By modern sporting event standards, that is amazing. We wouldn't believe it unless we saw it with our own eyes: Was anyone there?
   

It's baseball season, and we're a little obsessed 'round these parts. The MLB kicked the season off on Sunday when the Braves beat the Phillies, but for us Slashfoodies baseball is as much about beers and brats as it is about worrying how our teams will fare.

With that in mind, this week's Slashfood Ate (8) is dedicated to recent brew-related stadium stories.

1. Philadelphia Daily News' Joe Sixpack hints at some of the new draft beers at the Phillies stadium.
   
2. D.C. Sports Bog brags about the beers at Nats Park this year. And rightfully so. Do any other ballparks offer up Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA?
   
3. Not too far up the road in Bal'more, Kasper on Tap reflects on what Camden Yards is serving.
4. CNBC breaks the story on which stadiums boast cheapest beer prices in the league (the Pirates) and which are the most pricey (thanks a lot, Red Sox Nation).
5. Raucous Yankees fans can once again purchase beer in the bleachers. ...
6. ... But in a sign that the new Yanks stadium is still out of touch with the times, 24-ounce cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon will retail for an absurd $9.
7. The New York Mets turn up their noses at such piracy, lowering beer prices at their new stadium, Citi Field.
8. Sports fans, keep your boozin' in line or all of the above will be a moot point: Alcohol sales were banned for game two of the Tigers-Blue Jays series after drunken revelers ruined a rowdy opener.
   

Seen any interesting new suds offerings as your local ballpark? Can you even afford MLB beer prices in this economy?

1. Apricot and Chocolate Bavarois
2. Apricot, Almond and Brown Butter Tart
3. Apricots Baked in Fig Leaves
4. Apricot and Almond Jam
5. Grilled Apricots with Bittersweet Chocolate and Almonds
6. Blueberry Apricot Crumble
7. Bread and Butter Pudding Served with Clotted Cream and Compote of Apricots
8. Apricot Streusel Coffeecake

Towards the middle of spring, fava beans or as the English call them -- broad beans -- can be found at farmer's markets across the country. Their rich buttery texture and heavenly nutty taste not only complement meats, fish and other fruits and vegetables, but also make them standouts on their own.

Fava beans are eaten around the world as a snack and as a full meal. They're used as essential ingredients in meals ranging from salad to pork shoulder to bean paste. In the Middle East, fava beans are crushed in a sauce and eaten for breakfast in a dish called "ful medames."

In Iran, fava beans are conserved in metal cans and eaten throughout the winter with salt and pepper. They can also be fried and eaten as a delicious crunchy snack, as done in Mexico, Peru, China and Thailand.

Below are eight recipes for fava beans:

1. Grilled Fava Beans with Chile and Lemon
2. Sizzling Halloumi Cheese with Fava Beans and Mint
3. Fava Bean Salad with Roasted-Garlic Vinaigrette
4. Fava Bean Soup
5. Halibut on Mashed Fava Beans with Mint
6. Garlic-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with Spring Vegetables
   
7. Ravioli Stuffed with Fava Beans, Ricotta and Mint with Brown-Butter Sauce
8. Lemon- and Garlic-Roasted Chicken with Fava Beans, Radishes and Pecorino

To my regular readers, I apologize as it appears I inadvertently happened upon an almost two-week hiatus. The bad news: You missed me.

The good news: We have plenty to catch up on in this week's addition of the Beer Blog Round-Up!

Let's dive right in:

1. Sick of the same old beer events? Here's a new one for you: a "Simul-cask." Apparently, Dogfish Head has decided to debut their new 75 Minute IPA by simultaneously tapping casks of the brew in four different cities on the East coast at precisely 7:50 EST today. Find additional details as well as participating locations on Beernews.org.
2. Always worried about his weight, Joe Sixpack discusses the not so easy job of beer calorie-counting (though supposedly mandatory beer labeling is on its way). The post was inspired by the recent release of Does My Butt Look Big In This Beer? -- a guide to the nutritional information of over 2,000 beers worldwide.
3. Beer Examiner Charlie Papazian wants you to vote for "Beer City, USA." Go help him out and lend your hometown or favorite beer destination some support.

Read the next five after the jump. ...

Continue reading Slashfood Ate (8) - Beer Blog Round-Up

The first seasonal strawberries appear as early as April. The deliciously tart fruit we've come to know today originated in grassy woodlands all over Europe. Find out how to transform these red, ripe, sweet and succulent treats of nature into fabulous desserts.

Strawberries taste delicious eaten plain with a glass of champagne. But in a pie, their juiciness creates a distinctly bitter-sweet flavor that sits on the palate and seems to melt into the pie crust.

Strawberries taste especially rich when paired with milky desserts, like panna cotta and mascarpone. Or, simply add slices of strawberries to a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

This candy-like fruit easily creates a sweet distinctive jam without adding any pectin. Below are eight especially delicious strawberry desserts to try at home:

1. Strawberry Jam with Black Pepper and Fresh Mint
2. Strawberry Clafoutis
3. Strawberry and Hazelnut Meringue Cake
4. Strawberry Shortcake
5. Nectarine Strawberry Ice Pops
   
6. Strawberry Panna Cotta
7. Mascarpone Cheesecake with Rhubarb Glaze and Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
8. Italian Strawberry Tart
   

1. Martha Stewart's Shaved Asparagus Salad
2. Asparagus Salad with Celery Leaves, Quail Eggs, and Tarragon Vinaigrette
3. Asparagus Salad with Walnut Oil Vinaigrette
4. Spring Lettuce Salad with Roasted Asparagus
5. Portobello and Asparagus Salad
6. Asparagus-Bean Salad Over Arugula
7. Asparagus Salad with Soy-Mustard Dressing
8. Scallion and Asparagus Salad

1. Artichoke and Mushroom Frittata
2. Asparagus Frittata
3. Leek and Ricotta Frittata
4. Mustard Green and Sweet Onion Frittata
5. Alton Brown's Frittata
6. Ranchero Frittata
7. Mushroom and Potato Frittata
8. Gruyere, Ham, and Spinach Frittata

1. Chicken with Artichoke Hearts
2. Cream of Artichoke Soup
3. Artichoke Dip
4. Arugula and Baby Artichoke Salad
5. Fried Artichokes
6. Artichoke and Smoked Tuna Tart
7. Steamed Artichokes with Herb-Caper Mayonnaise
8. Falsone's Roasted Artichoke-Stuffed Artichokes

1. Duck Breasts with Mustard and Candied Kumquats
2. Gingerbread Layer Cake with Candied Kumquats
3. Sauteed Chicken Over Wilted Spinach with Kumquat Sauce
4. Chocolate Kumquat Cake
5. Braised Chicken with Kumquats and Green Olives
6. Ricotta Tart with Chocolate and Kumquats
7. Asian Pears with Vanilla-Poached Kumquats
8. Rootbeer Ham with Kumquats

1. Chilled Pineapple Mousse with Pistachios
2. Roasted Pineapple with Star Anise Pineapple Sorbet
3. Caramelized-Pineapple Baked Alaskas
4. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
5. Pineapple-Coconut Napoleons with Mascarpone Cream and Pineapple Syrup
6. Carrot and Pineapple Cake
7. Roasted Pineapple Milkshake
8. Coconut Ice Cream with Warm Rum Glazed Pineapple

1. Durand Chocolates from Brittany, France
2. Dozen Box of Roni's Roses - These chocolates are flavored with rose petal jam, powdered rose petals and exotic rose liqueur. If you're in NY, I highly suggest that you check out Roni-Sue's in the Essex Street Market in the Lower East Side.
3. Poco Dolce Burt Caramel Tiles - Everything made by Poco Dolce is phenomenal. They have truly mastered the delicious combination of salt and sweet.
4. Assortment from La Maison du Chocolate
5. Valentine's Selection from Jacques Torres
6. Pralus Chocolate Bars from France
7. Truffle Collection from Vosges Chocolate
8. Knipschildt Chocolate Box

Each

• Several weeks ago, Amy made Franks & Beans and I just haven't been able to get them out of my mind.
• We all have beloved kitchen tools that serve us well over the years. In this fun little post on Simmer Til Done, Marilyn says goodbye to her oven mitt.
• Food Networks stars immortalized in pancakes?
• Trix Are For Kids makes Lara Bars at home. Easy, cheap and you avoid any possible contact with contaminated peanut butter.
• Love the taste of roasted garlic, but can't quite seem to manage to make it successfully in the oven? CNET's Appliance and Kitchen Gadgets blog introduces us to the counter-top garlic roaster.
• Need a romantic dessert for your sweetie? Bake up a cake in this silicone cake pan that spells out LOVE.
• Did you know that Thin Mints make up one quarter of all Girl Scout cookies sold each year?
• I love cakes that get better after a day or two. This Danish Sand Cake from Kate at Warm Olives and Cook Cocktails sounds like it deserves a place in the rotation.

1. Mexican Hot Chocolate
2. Belgian Hot Chocolate
3. Hot Chocolate from The Barefoot Contessa
4. Hot Chocolate Agasajo-Style
5. Hot Chocolate with Rum
6. Superrich Hot Chocolate with Coconut Cream
7. Hot Chocolate Passion
8. Martha Stewart's White Hot Chocolate

1. Rice Pudding with Cardamom and Pistachios
2. Honeyed Goat Cheese Tart with Pistachio Crust
3. Pistachio Gelato
4. Meringue "Eggs" with Pistachio Custard and Chocolate Drizzle
5. Pistachio Almond Nougat Torroncini
6. Coconut Pistachio Meringues
7. Middle Eastern Nut Filled Multi-layered Pastry
8. Pistachio Baklava

1. South African Curried Lamb Meatloaf - This is probably one of the best meatloaves I have ever made!
2. Italian-American Meatloaf
3. Bobby Flay's Roasted Vegetable Meatloaf with Balsamic Glaze
4. Sausage and Bell Pepper Meatloaf
5. Veggie Meatloaf with Checca Sauce
6. Buffalo Meatloaf with Spinach and Roasted Baby Potatoes
7. Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf
8. Emeril's Tex-Mex Meatloaf

• On Tuesday, the Abita Brewery exploded. Don't worry: Beer terrorism isn't to blame -- a tank accidentally became over-pressurized. More amazing: Though production was halted for the day, supposedly no beer was harmed in the incident. More proof that God loves beer!
• With the auto industry down the tubes, maybe beer can save the Michigan economy: Bell's Brewery is undergoing a $5.2 million expansion.
• The Baltimore Sun's Rob Kasper tried to get a discussion going on "the best beers of the NFL's Final Four." What do you guys think are the best beers in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Phoenix and Philadelphia?
  

Continue reading Beer Edition - Slashfood Ate (8)

1. Martha Stewart's World's Best Mac and Cheese - The chipotle chile powder in this recipe is sure to spice up your ordinary mac n' cheese.
2. Cheesemonger's Mac and Cheese - This one uses Brie.
3. Grant's Mac and Cheese
4. Mac n' Cheese with Bacon
5. Wisconsin Mac and Cheese
6. Mac and Cheese with Leeks and Gorgonzola
7. Mac and Cheese with Buffalo Chicken
8. Mac and Cheese with Caramelized Shallots

Each

• Did you resolve to eat more veggies this year? Treehugger has written up nine ways to get more veggies into your diet.
• Think any good diet has to exclude delicious things like pizza? According to cookbook author and restaurant critic Joy Manning, it does not. Check out her sensible, healthy and mostly whole wheat pizza dough recipe.
• Entertaining at home is a great way to spend time with friends while saving some cash. Check out Maggie Mason's (queen of the Mighty Goods/Junior/Haus shopping empire) cheese plate jar which makes impromptu entertaining a snap.
  
• Attention Bacon Bits lovers! You would be well-served to skip any food service bits you come across for the near future, as 3,600 pounds of bits were recently recalled.
• The Pro Bono Baker recently adapted a Napa Cabbage Salad recipe from Chez Panisse Fruit to deliciously good results.
• I love the no-knead bread recipe, but sometimes I want bread that doesn't take 24 hours to make. I am intrigued by Katy (The Non-Consumer Advocate's) recipe for One Hour Bread.
• Nearly every week, Stefania (aka CityMama) posts a recipe on her site that makes me start a shopping list so I can re-create it at home. This week I am in love with her Mandoo Soup.
• Love take-out but don't love the cost (as well as all the packaging you consume each time you order out)? Check out this list of nine take-out standbys that you can make at home.