Beer and the Campaign Trail

Presidential hopefuls, spouses, and corresponding beer recipes, as offered by John Schlimm, author of The Ultimate Beer Lover’s Cookbook:

Hillary Clinton:

Blazing Hot Wings
with a Hoot & Holler

Blazing Hot Wing Sauce
1 packet Good Seasons Italian Dressing (powder)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 cups Frank’s Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Sauce
6 tablespoons beer

Directions: In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients, mixing well. The sauce is ready to serve, either over chicken wings or as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders.

Hoot & Holler
1/2 ounce triple sec
1/2 ounce Kahlua
1/2 ounce tequila
Ice
6 ounces beer

Directions: Combine the triple sec, Kahlua, tequila, and ice in a shaker, shaking well. Strain the mixture into a shot glass. Down the shot and chase it with the beer.

Bill Clinton:

Squirrel Dinner for Two
with a Root Beer Float

Squirrel Dinner for Two
2 squirrels (cleaned well)
2 tablespoons salt
2 large sweet onions (sliced)
4 carrots (halved)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
2 cloves fresh garlic (chopped) or 1 teaspoon garlic powder (sprinkled over the squirrel)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup water
1/4 cup beer

Directions: Place the squirrels in a large bowl. Add enough water, plus the 2 tablespoons of salt, to cover the squirrels. Cover and let set in refrigerator overnight. Drain off the water and rinse the squirrels. Pat the meat dry. Place the onions in the bottom of a roasting pan. Add the squirrels, carrots, and seasonings. In a bowl, combine the cream of mushroom soup, water, and beer, mixing well. Pour the soup mixture over the squirrels. Roast the squirrels, covered, at 325 degrees for 2-1/2 hours or until the meat is tender.

Root Beer Float
12 ounces beer
6 tablespoons vanilla ice cream
4 ounces root beer schnapps

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender, blending until smooth.

Barack Obama:

Hummus Wrap with The Big O
(or a Dr. B)

Hummus Wrap
3 tablespoons red pepper hummus
2 tablespoons beer
Extra virgin olive oil
1 soft tortilla shell
Garlic powder (to taste)
Italian seasoning (any kind)
Grated Parmesan cheese
1 fresh tomato (sliced)
1 sweet onion (sliced) (to taste)
Goat or other cheese
Pepperoni slices

Directions: In a bowl, combine the hummus and beer. Spread the olive oil on the tortilla shell. Thinly spread the beer hummus mixture on the tortilla. Over the hummus, sprinkle the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese. Place the tomatoes and onions over the mixture. Add the cheese. Sprinkle everything again with Italian seasoning and olive oil. Top the mixture with a few pepperoni slices and fresh basil. On foil, bake the wrap at 375 to 400 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

The Big O
1 ounce curaçao
Splash of orange juice
Ice
12 ounces beer

Directions: Combine the curaçao, orange juice, and ice in a shaker, shaking well. Add the shaker mixture to the beer, stirring well.

Dr. B
1 ounce amaretto
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce Bacardi 151 Proof Rum
1 ounce Dr. Pepper
1 ounce beer

Directions: Combine the amaretto, vodka, and rum on the rocks. Stir in the Dr. Pepper and beer.

Michelle Obama:

Spice Cake with a Fire & Ice

Spice Cake
2/3 cup (11 tablespoons) butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar (firmly packed)
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
12 ounces beer
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup golden raisins

Directions: In a medium bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar, creaming the mixture well. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, blending well. In another medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and allspice, mixing well. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture along with the beer, mixing well. Stir in the walnuts and raisins, mixing well. Pour the mixture into a tube pan. Bake the mixture at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Leave the cake in the pan to cool for 10 minutes and then remove the cake and place it on a rack to further cool. Top the cake with ice cream or your favorite frosting of choice.

Fire & Ice
5 ounces vodka
1 1/2 ounces Fire and Ice
1/4 cup beer
1/2 cup cola

Directions: Combine all ingredients on the rocks, stirring well.
(NOTE: Fire and Ice is a very sweet liqueur that tastes like cinnamon when you swallow it and mint when you exhale it.)

John McCain:

Cheese Steak Sandwich
with a Red, White, & Blue

Cheese Steak Sandwiches
2 pats (1 tablespoon, halved) butter
2 tablespoons beer
1 tablespoon beef bouillon
1/4 large onion (cut into strips or small pieces)
1/2 large pepper (cut into strips or small pieces)
6 large fresh mushrooms (cut into slices)
1 pound chipped steak (sliced thin)
Seasoned salt (to taste)
Garlic (to taste)
Seasoned pepper (to taste)
4 slices cheese of choice
Buns

Directions: In a frying pan, melt the butter and add the beer and bouillon. Add the onions, peppers, and mushrooms. Fry the mixture until the ingredients are soft. Add the steak to the mixture. The juices should be absorbed into the meat and other ingredients. Season to taste. Melt the cheese on top of the steak servings. Heat the buns and then place the steak, onions, and peppers onto the buns.

Red, White, & Blue

Ingredients:
6 ounces beer
1/2 ounce blueberry brandy
2 ounces peach schnapps
1 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce Everclear
Crushed ice

Directions: Combine all ingredients, stirring well.

Cindy McCain:

Classic Dip with a Grand Dame

Classic Dip
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1 (5-ounce) jar Old English Sharp Cheese Spread
1 teaspoon parsley
Garlic salt to taste
1/2 cup light beer

Directions: In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients, except the light beer, until the mixture is smooth. Then while continuing to mix, pour the light beer into the mixture until it is as thick as you prefer. For the best taste, pack the Classic Dip into a storage container, cover, and refrigerate overnight, allowing the flavors to settle.

Grand Dame
1/2 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce gin
1/2 ounce rum
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1/4 ounce Tia Maria
1/4 ounce Kahlua
1 ounce sour mix
Splash of cranberry juice
Crushed ice
Beer draft foam

Directions: Combine all of the alcohol, except the beer draft foam. Add the sour mix. Add the cranberry juice and crushed ice, stirring well. Top with the foam from the beer draft.