Appetite for Destruction

I got the book An Appetite for Ale by Fiona Beckett and Will Beckett a while ago. It's a book about beer and food, it's also got great recipes that use beer, recommendations on what food goes with what beer and a section on beer and cheese.

I've made a few recipes from this book and last week I made the best one yet, Carbonnade of beef with Orval. Some friends came over to watch Ireland playing and winning against France in the rugby and we ate this after wards. It was very tasty, rich and warming. We had some Samuel Adams Boston Lager with it. I know we should have had Orval but I used my last bottle making the stew.

A word of warning though, blogging can be dangerous. I decided I should get a photo of the stew for the blog and so set up the photo above with the book behind the pot. Unfortunately the book slipped into the gas ring which was on and the book went on fire. I was lucky and it went out easily without having to wet the book. Only the edges of a few pages were scorched. I felt a bit silly then and learned my lesson.

Oh and my blog has made the long list for the Irish Blog Awards. I'm very pleased about it.