side dish

Bready or Not: Sourdough Beer Bread

Posted by on Jul 2, 2025 in Blog, Bready or Not, side dish, sourdough | 0 comments

Not gonna lie: this Sourdough Beer Bread takes time, working in spurts over a day. It dirties many things. However, it also makes a big loaf of bread, so the effort can likely provide a delicious side for a few meals.

Bready or Not: Sourdough Beer Bread

When I say this is an all day recipe, I point to my own experience. I started making this at 7:15AM, and it was done about 3PM.

Bready or Not: Sourdough Beer Bread

A few other data points. I advise using a kitchen scale to measure the ingredients here. It’s very hard to reliably use a cup to measure sticky, goopy sourdough starter. The original recipe at King Arthur Flour had the instant yeast listed as optional, but for me, it wasn’t optional. I appreciate the extra oomph in the rise.

Bready or Not: Sourdough Beer Bread

Find the original recipe here. I rewrote it quite a bit for clarification.

Also, a reminder that my book featuring a sentient sourdough starter character is out in about TWO MONTHS! Find out more about A House Between Sea and Sky on its page.

Bready or Not: Sourdough Beer Bread

This recipe takes all day to make and has a lot of steps, and the result is a hearty, delicious bread perfect for supper. Modified from King Arthur Flour.
Author: Beth Cato

Equipment

  • kitchen scale
  • parchment paper
  • baking stone or cast iron skillet

Ingredients

Soaker

  • 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (112g)
  • 1/2 cup boiling water (113g)

Dough

  • 1 cup ripe sourdough starter (227g)
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons beer (255g beer) such as an amber ale or dark ale, room temperature
  • 3 1/2 cups bread flour (420g)
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 Tablespoon honey (21g) add more flavor using a variety such as basswood honey
  • 2 teaspoons table salt (12g)

Instructions

  • To make the soaker: Place oats in a heatproof bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Stir. Allow to cool while you start to prepare the dough.
  • Using a kitchen scale and weighing everything is highly recommended.
  • Combine the sourdough starter, beer, flour, and yeast in a large bowl. Mix well, by hand or with a mixer, the dough forms a cohesive mass.
  • Cover and let it rest (autolyse) for about 30 minutes.
  • Add the soaked oats, honey, and salt to the dough, fully incorporating. By hand or with a mixer, knead dough until it’s smooth, though it will still be tacky.
  • Cover dough and let it rise for 1 hour.
  • Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Fold it over itself and stretch gently several times. Return the dough to the bowl and cover.
  • Let dough rise for another hour.
  • Repeat the stretching and folding process one more time. Return dough to the bowl to rise for a third, final hour.
  • At the end of the rise, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let it rest for 20 minutes.
  • Place a clean cotton towel to cover the interior of a large bowl (or use a brotform). Add a heavy dusting of flour.
  • Shape the dough into a tighter round by tucking dough underneath to tighten the top. Place it seam-side up in the bowl.
  • Cover and let proof for 2 1/2 to 3 hours in a warm place; if your house is cool, it may need 4 hours. An oven with a proofing mode can also be used. When the dough is ready, it will look puffy and will jiggle when gently shaken.
  • When the rise time is nearing end, begin preheating oven at 450 degrees with a baking stone or cast iron pan inside (obviously, if the proof mode was being used, remove the bread to continue rising in a warm spot elsewhere). To use steam during the baking process, to create a crunchy crust, place another empty pan (such as a cast iron skillet or a cake pan) beneath the baking vessel.
  • Gently tip the risen loaf onto a piece of parchment. Slash the loaf several times with a sharp knife or lame–this creates vents for steam inside so the bread doesn’t grossly split–then use the parchment as a sling to CAREFULLY place the loaf on the very hot stoneware or cast iron.
  • While wearing thick oven mitts, pour 1 cup water into the empty pan on the lower rack, with the bread in the pan on the level above. Close oven and keep it closed as the bread bakes.
  • Bake bread for 15 minutes at 450, then reduce temperature to 400 F. Bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, until the loaf is deeply browned and sounds hollow when tapped. Remove loaf from the oven and carefully transition to a cooling rack. Cool at least 30 minutes before slicing.
  • Store leftover bread in a paper bag or loosely covered by plastic wrap for up to a few days. To preserve it longer, freeze and place in a freezer bags. Slicing the bread before freezing makes it easy to pull out portions to quickly defrost for later meals.

OM NOM NOM!

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    Bready or Not EXTRA CHEESY: Legendary Macaroni and Cheese

    Posted by on Apr 23, 2025 in Blog, Bready or Not, cheese galore, main dish, side dish | 0 comments

    Welcome to the fourth installment of our special month of Bready or Not. My cheese-centric cozy mystery Cheddar Luck Next Time came out earlier this month, so we’re celebrating with another cheesy recipe from the Bready or Not archives.

    Legendary MacNCheese

    This week’s feature is Legendary Macaroni and Cheese. This one gained incredible popularity during the shut-down in 2020.

    Legendary MacNCheese

    There are a gazillion macaroni and cheese recipes out there. This one is special because it can be prepared ahead of time, making it incredibly convenient to heat up for a meal during a busy week or during a holiday event.

    This is a heavily modified version of musician John Legend’s macaroni recipe, which he originally shared on the Martha Stewart Show a long time ago.

    Cheddar Luck Next Time

    Please grab a copy of Cheddar Luck Next Time, which features an autistic (like me!) lead character with a passion for cheese (like me!).

    Amazon: paperback | ebook (affiliate links)
    Barnes & Noble: paperback & ebook
    Bookshop: paperback

    Bready or Not: Legendary Macaroni and Cheese

    This modified version of John Legend’s recipe, as featured on Martha Stewart’s show, can be prepared in the morning and cooked later in the day! It’s everything macaroni and cheese should be: cheesy with a crunchy baked crust.
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Southern
    Keyword: cheese
    Author: Beth Cato

    Ingredients

    • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter plus more for baking dish
    • 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
    • 1 can evaporated milk
    • 1 large egg
    • 3/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
    • 12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese or a mix of cheddars, shredded
    • sprinkle paprika
    • bread crumbs

    Instructions

    • If you plan to bake this right away, preheat oven to 375-degrees. Butter or spray a 9×9 baking dish.
    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt and macaroni. Cook until al dente. Drain the water and return the macaroni to the pot. Add butter and stir until it has melted.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together evaporated milk and egg. Add seasoned salt, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
    • Place about 1/3 of the macaroni in an even layer in the bottom of prepared baking dish. This should be just enough to cover the bottom. Cover with 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat twice more with remaining macaroni and cheese.
    • Pour the milk and seasonings mixture evenly over the contents of the baking dish. At this point, you can stash the dish in the fridge overnight or during the day until it’s meal time.
    • When you’re ready to bake, make sure the oven is preheated. Sprinkle the top of the macaroni with paprika and bread crumbs.
    • Bake until top layer is lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes; note that if the dish is cold, bake time will likely need to be extended to closer to 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
    • OM NOM NOM!
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    Bready or Not EXTRA CHEESY: Cheese and Chives Yorkshire Puddings (Small Batch)

    Posted by on Apr 16, 2025 in Blog, Bready or Not, british, cheese galore, side dish | 0 comments

    Welcome to the third installment of our special month of Bready or Not. My cheese-centric cozy mystery Cheddar Luck Next Time just came out last week, so we’re celebrating with another cheesy recipe from the Bready or Not archives.

    This week’s feature is Cheese and Chives Yorkshire Puddings.

    Cheese and Chives Yorkshire Puddings

    Yorkshire puddings are what many Americans also know of as pop-overs–light, airy, crisp sponges perfect to eat with a roast and gravy!

    Cheese and Chives Yorkshire Puddings

    This recipe is for a small batch of puds. Since they are so airy (if they rise right), the six puddings of this recipe are perfect for two or three people. These will not reheat well, so eat’em up fresh!

    Use a good quality cheddar here to really take these puddings to the next level. I used Kerrygold Dubliner.

    Cheddar Luck Next Time

    Please grab a copy of Cheddar Luck Next Time, which features an autistic (like me!) lead character with a passion for cheese (like me!).

    Amazon: paperback | ebook (affiliate links)
    Barnes & Noble: paperback & ebook
    Bookshop: paperback

    Bready or Not: Cheese and Chives Yorkshire Puddings (Small Batch)

    These cheesy Yorkshire puds are perfect to serve with a holiday roast and gravy! Unlike many recipes, this makes a small batch of six puddings, enough for 2 or 3 people. These are light, airy, and oh-so-cheesy. Use the best cheddar you can find–you'll be able to taste the difference.
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: British
    Keyword: cheese, quick bread
    Servings: 2
    Author: Beth Cato

    Equipment

    • metal muffin pan
    • blender

    Ingredients

    • 3/4 cup milk or half & half
    • 2 large eggs room temperature
    • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted, divided
    • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/4 cup quality cheddar cheese (25 grams), freshly grated
    • 1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh chives chopped, plus more for garnish

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven at 425-degrees.
    • In the container of a blender, place milk, eggs, 1 tablespoon melted butter, flour, and salt; process just until smooth. Let rest for 10 minutes.
    • In a small bowl, toss together grated cheese and chives.
    • Place a 12-cup muffin pan in oven for 5 minutes to preheat.
    • Remove muffin pan from oven, and quickly spoon the remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter into the 6 muffin cups that are being used. Return pan to oven for 2 minutes.
    • Remove pan from oven. Working fast, spoon or pour batter into buttered muffin cups, dividing as evenly as possible. Top each with a spoonful of cheese mixture.
    • Bake until puffed and golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Garnish with more chives, if desired. Serve immediately. Yorkshires are best fresh as they deflate after baking.

    OM NOM NOM!

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      Bready or Not: Easy Cranberry Sauce

      Posted by on Oct 2, 2024 in alcohol, Blog, Bready or Not, side dish | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Easy Cranberry Sauce

      It’s the first week of October, but we’re anticipating the holiday season with this Easy Cranberry Sauce recipe.

      Bready or Not: Easy Cranberry Sauce

      Last Thanksgiving was my first in almost 20 years when I didn’t get to go home to California. My mom is all about using the canned jellied cranberry sauce. I’ve hinted for years now that I could try making a fresh sauce, but tradition is tradition.

      I was sad I couldn’t be with my folks at Thanksgiving, but hey, at least I could try a homemade sauce at long last. Being that I’m in Minnesota now, that also meant using local cranberries.

      Bready or Not: Easy Cranberry Sauce

      I used a 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries, but frozen is fine, too. Since there were only two of us partaking in the feast, we had a lot of leftover sauce, but that was fine–I used most of the remainder in a Cranberry Swirled Blondies recipe that I’ll share next week!

      Bready or Not: Easy Cranberry Sauce

      This sauce takes all of 15 minutes to make and can be stashed in the fridge for up to 5 days. That means it can be made ahead of a holiday meal. Modified from Bon Appetit November 2023.
      Course: Side Dish
      Cuisine: American
      Keyword: cranberries
      Author: Beth Cato

      Ingredients

      • 12 ounces cranberries fresh or frozen
      • 3/4 cup white sugar
      • 1 Tablespoon Grand Marnier
      • zest of one orange
      • pinch kosher salt
      • 1 cup water

      Instructions

      • Place all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan on medium heat. Stir frequently as the contents warm through so that nothing sticks and burns. After 10-15 minutes, the cranberries will start to burst and the mixture will turn jammy. Cook another couple minutes as more berries break down. Remove from heat and cool before serving.
      • Sauce can be made up to 5 days ahead. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Serve with meats such as turkey and ham, or with ice cream or within a baked dessert.

      OM NOM NOM!

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        Bready or Not Original: Goat Cheese Biscuits

        Posted by on Sep 11, 2024 in Blog, Bready or Not, cheese galore, quick bread, side dish | Comments Off on Bready or Not Original: Goat Cheese Biscuits

        Today we are not only bready, to fit with the blog title of Bready or Not, but we are also cheesy. These Goat Cheese Biscuits are the perfect side for a supper meal.

        Bready or Not Original: Goat Cheese Biscuits

        If you’re on the lookout for a good supper meal, too, stay tuned–in two weeks, I’m sharing a pot roast recipe that will set you up nicely for this fall and winter!

        Bready or Not Original: Goat Cheese Biscuits

        For this recipe, I love using the 4-ounce logs that are often available at Aldi. They are cheap and basic, not high end as far as chevre goes, but they are absolutely perfect in a recipe like this. Plain logs are ideal, but you can also use one with herbs.

        Bready or Not Original: Goat Cheese Biscuits

        I like thick biscuits. I get 6 out of this recipe, but if you form them to be thinner, you could get 8 or more. The texture is cakey, the flavor rich because of the butter and goat cheese throughout.

        Bready or Not Original: Goat Cheese Biscuits

        This super-easy small batch of cheesy biscuits is perfect to feed a family alongside a good soup or stew. Makes 6-8 biscuits, dependent on thickness.
        Course: Bread
        Keyword: cheese, quick bread
        Servings: 6 biscuits
        Author: Beth Cato

        Equipment

        • 2-inch round cutter
        • pastry brush

        Ingredients

        • 4- ounces plain goat cheese or used an herbed variety
        • 2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for surface
        • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
        • 1 teaspoon salt
        • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
        • 3/4 cup buttermilk or soured milk, see note
        • extra milk or half & half

        Instructions

        • Preheat oven to 475-degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
        • Set the goat cheese in the freezer for just a few minutes as the dough is being prepared.
        • In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter and mash it until it is pea-sized. Pour in the buttermilk or soured milk.
        • The chilled goat cheese will be easier to dice into small pieces without being a sticky mess. Fold those chunks into the dough.
        • Sprinkle flour onto a clean work surface. Knead the dough to make sure it is cohesive, but don’t overwork. Pat into a thick round. Use a 2-inch cutter to cut out shapes. Set them on cookie sheet, then reform leftovers to cut out more biscuits.
        • Once all of the scrap dough is used, pour a dab of milk or half & half into a saucer. Use a pastry brush to brush a thin layer of milk onto the top of each biscuit; this will create a nice golden crust.
        • Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until nicely golden. Serve immediately. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave or wrapped in foil and set in the oven to briefly bake.

        OM NOM NOM!

          Notes

          To make soured milk, set out a liquid measuring cup. Add enough lemon juice or vinegar to form a thin line on the bottom of the cup. Pour milk or half & half to equal the 3/4 amount called for in this recipe. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes; it should coagulate. Use in recipe.
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          Bready or Not: Sweet Crescent Rolls in the Bread Machine

          Posted by on Jul 10, 2024 in Blog, Bready or Not, side dish, yeast bread | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Sweet Crescent Rolls in the Bread Machine

          The blog is titled Bready or Not. Today, it is decidedly bready, as the recipe is one for Sweet Crescent Rolls made using a bread machine.

          Bready or Not: Sweet Crescent Rolls in the Bread Machine

          The recipe requires little hands-on effort. The dough mixes in the bread machine. You divide it and form the crescent rolls, which is actually rather fun. They rise. You then bake. The recipe makes 24 rolls, meaning you can feed a crowd or you can freeze a bunch.

          Bready or Not: Sweet Crescent Rolls in the Bread Machine

          These keep well in the freezer for months. This is the kind of thing you can make at Thanksgiving and then pull out as needed through the rest of the holiday season.

          Bready or Not: Sweet Crescent Rolls in the Bread Machine

          Modified from Allrecipes.com Magazine Oct/Nov 2014.

          Bready or Not: Sweet Crescent Rolls in the Bread Machine

          Mix the dough in the bread machine, shape it for the second rise, then bake in the oven. This dinner side is easy to make, and fantastic to prepare in a big batch to freeze for later! Modified from Allrecipes.com Magazine Oct/Nov 2014.
          Course: Bread
          Cuisine: American
          Keyword: yeast bread
          Servings: 24 rolls
          Author: Beth Cato

          Equipment

          • food thermometer
          • bread machine
          • parchment paper
          • food scale
          • cookie sheet
          • knife or pizza cutter

          Ingredients

          • 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees)
          • 1/2 warm milk or half & half (110 degrees)
          • 1 large egg room temperature
          • 1/3 cup unsalted butter softened
          • 3 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
          • 1/2 cup white sugar
          • 1 teaspoon salt
          • 2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast or 1 packet active dry yeast
          • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened, for filling

          Instructions

          • Place ingredients in recommended order for bread machine, usually liquid first: water, milk, egg, butter, flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Start dough cycle, and let it mix and complete the first rise.
          • Prepare a baking sheet or sheets with parchment paper.
          • Once that is done, remove dough and divide in half using food scale. Roll each half into a 12-inch round. Divide the 1/4 cup butter in half and spread over each round. Use a knife or pizza cutter to slice each round into 12 wedges. Starting at the wide end, roll up each triangle gently but tightly to form a crescent roll. Place each roll, narrow side down, on the baking sheet.
          • Cover pan with plastic wrap or a clean towel and let rise in a warm spot for an hour. Meanwhile, start preheating oven at 400 degrees.
          • Once rolls are risen after the hour, bake for 10 to 15 minutes, switching pan position in oven, if necessary, to prevent overbrowning. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.
          • Cool rolls can also be frozen for later enjoyment; thaw them at room temperature then heat wrapped in aluminum foil at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.

          OM NOM NOM!

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