The official Girl Scout Cookie Day is February 8th!

If you’re like us, you can’t pass on buying a box (or ten) of Girl Scout Cookies on your way out of the store. While relaxing with one of your beers club brews, here are some pairings to help polish off some of those Girl Scout Cookies in the kitchen.

Thin Mints

Sly Fox Brewing Co. – Nihilist
Kulmbacher Brauerei – Kulmbacher Eisbock

Samoas®/Caramel deLites™

Shipyard Brewing Company – Monkey Fist IPA
Cisco Brewers – Indie Pale Ale
Brasserie de Blaugies – La Moneuse

Tagalongs®/Peanut Butter Patties®

Pennsylvania Brewing Company – Penn Dark
Shipyard Brewing Company – Longfellow Winter Ale

Trefoils/Shortbread

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse – Grand Cru
Pennsylvania Brewing Company – Penn Pilsner
Cisco Brewers – Grey Lady

Do-Si-Dos™/Peanut Butter Sandwich

T&R Theakston, Ltd. – Old Peculier
Sprecher Brewing Company – Dunkel Weizen
Ölvisholt Brugghús – Lava

Thanks-A-Lot™

Shipyard Brewing Company – Longfellow Winter Ale
Kulmbacher Brauerei – Kulmbacher Eisbock
Sly Fox Brewing Co. – Nihilist

Lemonades

Kulmbacher Brauerei – Edelherb Pilsner
Brasserie Du Pays Flamand – Anosteké

“A hunter’s favorite, venison sausage is often prepared with a combination of lean ground venison and fattier ground pork.”

SERVES 6

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 12 venison sausages
• 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into large pieces
• 2 leeks, white part only, cleaned and cut into 1” pieces
• 2 granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into wedges
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 12-oz. bottle lager-style beer
• ¼ cup demi-glace (optional)
• 1 small savoy cabbage, trimmed, cored, and cut into large pieces

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt 2 tbsp. butter with olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add sausages, and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer sausages to a plate, cover with aluminum foil to keep warm, and set aside.

2. Melt remaining 2 tbsp. butter in the same skillet, then add carrots, leeks, and apples, stirring to coat vegetables and apples with butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and cook until everything in the pan is glazed and slightly browned, about 10 minutes. Pick apple wedges out of skillet and set aside. Add beer and demi-glace (if using), and, with a wooden spoon, loosen any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low, then cover and cook for 20 minutes. Return sausages and apples to the skillet, then add cabbage. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Recipe and photo from: www.Saveur.com

This fish chowder features a rich tomato broth, hearty potatoes, smoky chorizo, and savory fish that is not only fast, but is sure to be a hit at your table!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces Spanish chorizo (cured sausage), thinly sliced
• 4 leeks (white and light green parts), cut into half-moons
• 1 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes (about 4 medium), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 pounds skinless firm white fish (such as halibut or cod), cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

In a large pot, brown the chorizo over medium-high heat, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the potatoes, tomatoes (with their juices), 3 cups water, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cover and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

Add the fish and simmer gently until opaque throughout, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the parsley before serving.

*Editor’s Note: Spanish chorizo is smoked pork sausage that’s loaded with seasonings like garlic and chili powder. If you can’t find it in your supermarket, use bacon instead.

Recipe and photo from www.RealSimple.com

Ingredients

• 8 ounces skinless slab bacon, sliced 1/4 inch thick and cut into 1/4-inch strips
• 1 large Vidalia onion, thinly sliced
• 3 large yellow bell peppers, thinly sliced
• 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 12 ounces spicy Hungarian sausage (kolbász) or chorizo, thickly sliced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• 1 3/4 pounds plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup red ale or lager
• 1 bay leaf
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• Grilled sourdough bread, for serving

Directions

In a large enameled cast-iron casserole or Dutch oven, cook the bacon strips over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until very lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the bell peppers and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in the sausage slices, crushed red pepper and paprika and cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until beginning to break down, about 5 minutes. Add the beer and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Cover partially and cook over low heat until the vegetables are very tender and the sauce is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes. Season the stew with salt and pepper and serve with grilled bread.

MAKE AHEAD The stew can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; gently reheat before serving.

Recipe and photo from www.FoodandWine.com

Pungent Stilton cheese and malty stout beer enrich the filling in these classic Lancashire meat pies which make them perfect for the cold winter nights!

MAKES 4 INDIVIDUAL PIES

INGREDIENTS

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1¼ lb. beef chuck, cut into 1″ cubes
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 large yellow onions, sliced
• 2 ribs celery, thickly sliced
• 2 small carrots, thickly sliced
• 2 tbsp. minced rosemary
• 1 (12-oz.) bottle stout beer
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups beef stock
• 2 tsp. mustard powder
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 10 oz. mushrooms, quartered
• 6 oz. English Stilton, crumbled
• 1 (10-oz.) package frozen peas
• 1 (14-oz.) package puff pastry
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oil in an 8-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper, and cook until browned, 10–12 minutes; transfer to a bowl. Add garlic, onions, celery, carrots, and rosemary to pan; cook until soft, 10–12 minutes. Add beer; cook until almost dry, 18–20 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring, until smooth. Return beef to pan along with stock, mustard, and bay leaf; bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Cook, covered partially, until beef is barely tender, about 1½ hours; set aside. Heat butter in a 10″ skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring, until browned all over, about 8 minutes; stir into beef mixture along with cheese and peas.

2. Heat oven to 375°. Divide beef mixture among four 6″ pie tins (12 oz. each). Roll pastry into a 14″ square; cut out four 6″ circles. Brush tin edges with egg; place 1 circle over each; press to seal. Cut slits into pastry; brush with egg. Bake until browned, about 40 minutes.

Photo and recipe from www.saveur.com

A unique twist on a holiday favorite, Beer Nog will work best with a strong ale (barleywine, Belgian strong, Christmas beer, or otherwise) to add a welcome flavor dimension to the classic holiday tipple, while carbonation lightens the thick, noggy texture.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 fresh eggs
• ½ cup sugar
• 1½ cups whole milk
• 1 cup cream
• 2 dashes ground nutmeg or mace
• 4 ounces strong ale
• ½ ounce Bourbon or dark rum

Instructions:

• Separate the eggs. Beat the sugar into the yolks until smooth.

• Stir the milk and cream into the yolk mixture. Add 1 dash of spice and the whiskey or rum. (Some recipes call for as much as 4 ounces of liquor; here, a bit of warmth is welcome, but too much can overwhelm the beer’s flavor.)

• Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into the nog mixture.

• Pour the beer into the snifter. Add the nog mixture and pour into serving glasses.

Optional: Reserve some of the cream, whip and add a dollop to each glass. Sprinkle 1 dash of spice on top and serve.

Recipe and photo from: www.DraftMag.com

With the holidays right around the corner, these savory Caramelized Onion and Cranberry Puff Pastry Bites are a perfect hors d’oeuvre for any holiday party or meal!

Makes 24 pieces

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pound sweet yellow onions (about 2 very large), very thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons sweet butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 5 sprigs fresh thyme (lemon thyme is especially good)
• 1 tablespoon sour cream or crème fraîche
• 1 sheet puff pastry, defrosted but still cold
• 24 fresh, whole cranberries
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

1. In a large skillet, heat the onions, butter, and olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes until the onions begin to shrink down a bit.

2. Lower the heat to medium-low. Stirring every few minutes, caramelize the onions for 30 minutes. Add in the sprigs of thyme and continue to cook for another 10-15 minutes, still stirring regularly and lowering the heat as necessary, until the onions reach a uniform toasty brown color. Cooking them slowly over a low heat will help make the onions sweet and evenly browned, so take your time.

3. Remove the onions from the heat. Carefully remove the thyme stems. Stir in the sour cream or crème fraîche.

4. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Directly on a Silpat or on parchement paper, roll out the pastry sheet to about 12 inches by 8 inches. Score the sheet into 2-inch by 2-inch squares. Place the Silpat or parchment on a baking sheet.

5. Top each square with a heaping tablespoon of the caramelized onions. Place a whole cranberry atop each mound of onions.

6. Sprinkle salt and fresh pepper very lightly over the squares. Bake for about 15 minutes, rotating the pan about halfway through cooking. The bites are done when the edges of the puff pastry have browned and the cranberries have shrunken.

7. Cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe and photo from www.food52.com