Basic Beer-Cheese Bread

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 375°.
2. 2
   Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion to pan; cook 10 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Stir in pepper and garlic; cook 1 minute.
3. 3
   Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk; make a well in center of mixture. Add onion mixture, cheese, and beer to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
4. 4
   Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Drizzle 1 tablespoon butter over batter. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon butter over batter. Bake an additional 25 minutes or until deep golden brown and a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
5. 5
   Apple-Cheddar Beer Bread: Substitute 1/2 cup minced shallots for onion. Place 1/2 cup shredded peeled Gala apple in paper towels; squeeze until barely moist. Cook shallots and apple in oil over medium heat for 7 minutes. Substitute 1 cup shredded extrasharp white cheddar cheese for Monterey Jack. Substitute 1 (12-ounce) bottle hard cider for lager. Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 slice)
6. 6
   CALORIES 151 (27% from fat); FAT 6g (sat 5g, mono 6g, poly 3g); PROTEIN 4g; CARB 9g; FIBER 8g; CHOL 11mg; IRON 3mg; SODIUM 265mg; CALC 87mg
7. 7
   Manchego-Jalapeno Beer Bread: Substitute 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions and 1/4 cup finely chopped jalapeno pepper for onion; cook over medium heat for 3 minutes. Substitute 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Manchego cheese for Monterey Jack cheese. Substitute 1 (12-ounce) bottle Mexican beer (such as Dos Equis) for lager-style beer. Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 slice).
8. 8
   CALORIES 148 (28% from fat); FAT 6g (sat 4g, mono 7g, poly 3g); PROTEIN 7g; CARB 6g; FIBER 7g; CHOL 12mg; IRON 3mg; SODIUM 244mg; CALC 108mg
9. 9
   Sopressata-Asiago Beer Bread: Substitute 1/2 cup minced shallots and 2 tablespoons chopped green onions for onion. Substitute 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded Asiago cheese for Monterey Jack cheese. Substitute 1 (12-ounce) bottle Italian lager beer (such as Peroni) for lager-style beer. Stir 2 ounces finely chopped Sopressata salami into batter. Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 slice).
10. 10
    CALORIES 154 (29% from fat); FAT 5g (sat 4g, mono 2g, poly 3g); PROTEIN 5g; CARB 2g; FIBER 7g; CHOL 11mg; IRON 4mg; SODIUM 301mg; CALC 89mg