Good 'ol Southern Comfort

The winds from Atlanta blew a special treat my way this weekend in the form of one Margaret Jago, my dear friend and ex-roommate (one of her favorite terms). We share an intense love for food (though hers tends toward the dill pickle and diet coke side of things, while mine favors all things butter and chocolate), so I knew the weekend would bring another of Margaret's favorite words- FULL. And so it was. On Saturday, we tried to see Moliere's 'Miser' put on by Shakespeare in the Park, but Mother Nature had other plans, and, with a terrific summer storm that commenced half an hour before curtain call, she sent us high-tailing back to dry ground (poor Alycia and TJ got left out in the rain while Margaret and I watched the apocalyptic events from the shelter of my car, but that's a story for another time). So we took our little party back to my apartment and had a picnic on the floor. I made Honey Beer bread and spinach dip, which we enjoyed with TJ and Alycia's pasta salad, raw broccoli, grapes (on sale at Publix), and Winking Owl Cab Sav (thank you Aldi's!) We stuffed ourself to contentment and beyond, and let our food settle while we played a rousing game of Taboo. Not exactly what we planned, but perhaps a good sight better.

Honey Beer Bread
-3 C flour (Add more if necessary)
-1 1/2 t salt
-4 1/2 t baking powder
-1/3 C brown sugar
-12 oz beer (still rocking the Sam Adams Black- can't beat it)
-1/4 C honey

Mix the dry ingredients, then add the beer and honey and mix well. Pour into a greased loaf pan, and spread butter and honey on the top if you wish. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

Spinach Dip
-8 oz (1 bar) cream cheese)
-1 C sour cream
-1/2 onion, finely chopped
-5 cloves garlic, minced
-1/2 lb spinach, chopped
-seasonings- to taste (salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, herbs)

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil, add spinach. In a mixing bowl, mix together sour cream and cream cheese (best if it's softened), then add in the spinach mixture. Stir in the seasonings and refrigerate for at least an hour. The garlic is really what makes this dip, so don't be afraid to really go to town. This is amazing with the sweet beer bread, but would be great with any type of cracker or bread (Wheat thins come to mind).