Smoked Cheddar & Bacon Jalapeño Beer Bread.

When this bread recipe from Chocolate, Chocolate and More appeared in my newsfeed I was instantly hooked.  Joan took a classic beer bread and gave it personality.  Her gorgeous photo drew me in but the fact that you can have it ready for the oven in 5 minutes sealed the deal.

In 5 minutes you can have a bread baking in the oven.  In 45 minutes the smell of freshly baked bread will be wafting through your kitchen.  In one hour, start to finish, you will be fighting off the family as you try and picture this bread.  You’ll want to remember it….because within mere minutes, you’ll need to make another one.

Okay, that’s not entirely true.  You see we don’t generally keep bread on hand.  It’s a self control thing.  So when we do make it I try and come up with some fun ways to use it.  We did put a healthy dent in it while it was still warm from the oven.  However we saved enough to make a Three Cheese Mac ‘n’ Cheese Grilled Cheese which was pure indulgence.  AND we discovered that Smoked Cheddar & Bacon Jalapeno Beer Bread ground up and added to your meatball mix is pure genius!!

There are so many flavor possibilities with beer bread.  We used smoked cheddar, bacon and jalapeño, all of which came through.  Imagine if we used maple bacon with pumpkin ale or added fresh herbs and lemon zest or I could go on and on.  If you’ve avoided bread making (like someone I know) because of the work and time required this is a great recipe for you (and me).

At the time of this post, our blogger friend Joan with Chocolate, Chocolate and More is facing an unimaginable battle.  Two days ago her daughter Grace was struck by a car while walking to school.  She was placed in a medically induced coma while her injuries were evaluated.  Today her meds were reduced enough for precious Grace to open her eyes to see and recognize her family at her side.  Please keep this beautiful family in your thoughts and prayers as they continue on this path of healing.

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Smoked Cheddar & Bacon Jalapeño Beer Bread

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Author Chocolate, Chocolate and More

Ingredients

• 3 cups Self-rising flour
• 3 Tbl. sugar
• 1 12- ounce bottle beer
• 1 cup cooked bacon diced
• 1 cup shredded smoked cheddar cheese
• 1 jalapeño fine diced
• 1/4 cup butter melted

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 9×5 loaf pan.
• Combine flour, sugar and beer in a large bowl. Stir until moistened. Fold in bacon, cheese and jalapeño. Pour into greased loaf pan.
• Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven, pour melted butter over top and bake an additional 10 minutes.
• Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove from loaf pan and serve.

The post Smoked Cheddar & Bacon Jalapeño Beer Bread appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Chipotle Smoked Cheddar Cheese Ball {with Bacon & Jalapeno}.

I received an email several months ago from the marketing company for Kellogg’s asking if I’d like to sample their new bold cutting-edge Cheez-It product.  Would I?  You betcha.

Hehe.  I am pleased to share that I was selected to be a Cheez-It Cheese-searcher.  I received my “research kit” (one of the best marketing pieces I’ve seen) and inside was this letter.  I’ll let you read it.

Today, was the day I revealed my Cheez-It gear AND my first recipe incorporating their brand new Zingz Crackers.  Here I am.  How stinking awesome is this get up?!

Yes, that is a full length monogramed lab coat, complete with crunch-proof testing goggles, my official company badge, pen, clipboard, and a flavor and crunch analysis card (remember mood rings….it has that kind of technology…Mmm Hmm).  But even bigger than that is that we got a sneak preview of two incredible new Cheez-It flavors that pack a big crunch punch!

I enlisted the help of the biggest Cheez-It lover I know.  To quote my kid Shelby “I could honestly eat only cheezits for the rest of my life.”  She really likes them.

Thank you Kellogg for sending us free samples in appreciation of our dedicated cheese search and support.  We loved them both and can’t wait to see them on the supermarket shelves!!

In honor of Halloween, I pumpkin shaped my Chipotle Smoked Cheddar Cheese Ball {with Bacon & Jalapeno} then rolled it crushed Cheez-It Chipotle Cheddar Zingz!!

Fabulous!!  Smoky cheddar, creamy Colby, bacon love, hint of jalapeno, and that cheesy crunchy Cheez-It Zingz coating.  I mean BIG.  Flavor.  WOW.

Thank you again Kellogg for choosing Lemony Thyme to be one of your Cheese-searchers.  My opinion of your new product is 100% my own.  However I can tell you that the assistant Cheese-searchers I’ve enlisted are loving them just as much as I am.

Stay tuned for a Queso Fundido Zingz recipe coming your way soon!

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Chipotle Smoked Cheddar Cheese Ball {with Bacon & Jalapeno}

Servings 10

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded Colby jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded smoked cheddar cheese
• 1 8- ounce block cream cheese room temperature
• 1 jalapeno finely diced (reserve stem)
• 1/4 cup crispy crumbled bacon about 4 slices
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. freshly grated black pepper
• 1 cup Cheez-It Zingz Chipotle Cheddar Snack Crackers when available

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients except Zingz in a medium bowl. Once well blended shape into a ball (or pumpkin).
• Place 1 cup of Zingz into a zipper top bag. Crush crackers then using hands press them into cheese ball, completely coating the cheese.
• Place jalapeno stem on top if making pumpkin shaped cheese ball.
• Serve with pita chips or pita bread.

The post Chipotle Smoked Cheddar Cheese Ball {with Bacon & Jalapeno} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.