It’s official. Cam, Luke, Greg, and the rest of the Cardiac Cats are totally trying to kill me. That game, y’all! I just can’t take it! It was a super stressful second half, but thankfully we’re moving on to the next game and we’ll be hosting the Angry Birds here again in Panther Nation for another home field advantage. I hope I survive.
Because it’s Monday. Because I had several cardiac arrests, a blood pressure emergency, and a head explosion yesterday, we’re starting out this week with beer.
As if I need a reason.
We actually have beer-steamed mussels a lot. They’re cheap, fast, easy and delicious. Seriously, a pound at the Publix is usually only about $4.50.
Add beer? Yes, please! Mother Earth Brewing is located in Kinston, North Carolina and makes some great craft beer. How can you not love a brewery that brews beer with sustainable practices and whose motto is Peace, Love & Beer?!?! I know, right? These are clearly my kind of people.
Any-hoo, I normally like to include the actual beer bottle or can in some in the photos with food I cook with the beer, but I didn’t this time because this was dinner and no one wants to eat cold and grainy mussels. Bottom line? The Weeping Willow Wit bottle had already made it to the recycling bin and I wasn’t going back to get it or dinner would be cold. At least I think Mother Earth Brewing would be proud that I recycled their bottle. 🙂
Any-hoo again. I tend to get distracted and digress. These mussels are garlicky and delicious with the floral notes from the Belgian-style Weeping Willow Wit. If you don’t have Mother Earth where you are, just use your favorite Belgian – a tripel would be awesome.
You could serve them as an appetizer, toss them over pasta with some parmesan (which is what we did and don’t judge me for mixing cheese and fish – I give it an A-OK if it’s parm and pasta is involved), or just hoard them all to yourself with a big piece of crusty bread.
Until next time friends. In the words of the cool peeps at Mother Earth Brewing, I wish you Peace, Love & Beer.
I also wish you a $700 Amazon gift card, so don’t forget to enter the giveaway!!!! (CLOSED)
Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit Steamed Mussels
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- 1 12 ounce bottle Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit Belgian-Style Wit Beer
- 1.5 pounds mussels
- 1/4 cup chopped basil for garnish optional
- 1/2 pound angel hair pasta prepared and optional
- Parmesan to taste, optional
Instructions
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Combine 1/4 cup flour with a large bowl of water - enough to cover mussels by a couple of inches
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Add mussels and soak for 20 - 30 minutes
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Scoop mussels out of flour water with a slotted spoon and transfer to a colander, discard flour water
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Scrub mussels and remove the weird hairy beard things by using a towel to grab and pull it off, discard any that don't stay closed
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Melt butter and olive oil in a Dutch oven on medium heat, add garlic, and cook until soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes
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Transfer mussels from bowl to Dutch oven
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Add beer, cover, and cook on medium low until mussels open, 8-10 minutes, discard any that don't open
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Serve over pasta garnished with parmesan and basil if using
With my family being from Belgium, I grew up on eating mussels, but sadly I am not a fan of them any more. But, my husband loves them!
Well, at least if you don’t like mussels anymore you do come from a good line of beer peeps! 🙂
I’ve never made mussels before, but I do love ordering them out. This recipe sounds so good, Rachelle! And I bet these are so much better than the restaurant kind! Yum!
It’s so easy, Gayle! Thanks!
You know how i feel about your Cats so I’m just not even going to say anything. I did watch that stupid game yesterday (gotta watch all the games now cause football is ending soon) so whatever, the Pats won this weekend too so it’s all good. I forgot all about your poor taste in football teams once I saw the beautiful mussels. My oh my, I love me some mussels and beer and I also love cheese and fish together, so I’ll support you in that! I’ve never had Mother Earth Weeping Willow so will have to sub it with another Belgium beer. Yummy! GO PATS!! 🙂
My poor taste? Dude. Two words. Deflate. Gate. 🙂 Thank goodness you made those beautiful preserved lemons to make me forget about Tom Brady and your NE team shenanigans!
New Belgium’s tripel would be a lovely substitute for steamed mussels. I’m hoarding all the good NC craft beer down here and not sharing.
Go CATS! Sweet Caroline! Good times never seemed so good!
I guess I’m going to have to do some research on NC teams, now that I live here huh? Although I’m not willing to trade in my teams though.. but I suppose I can always add teams to cheer for. 😉 Anyways. Yay to beer #twinning today! Mussels steamed in beer is Soooo delicious and I am loving yours, Rachelle! Over some pasta and a bit of parm I would be in heaven! (I’m clearly not one who thinks fish and cheese is a no-no). Never had weeping willow beer, but I’ll have to check it out! Cheers, doll! Xo
Girl, you don’t have to trade in any teams! Just add the Cats to your list – if you don’t mind cardiac arrest….
Yay to beer #twinning today! I loved your Highland short ribs chili! Cheers, girl! XO
Peace, Love & Beer…I could get behind that! This is a dish my hubby would love! I’l drink the beer and he can eat all the mussels – now that’s love. Have a great day, friend!
Sounds like a match made in heaven to me, Annie! Thanks, friend!
I’ve always been intimidated by making mussels…but this looks too good not to try! YUM!!
Thanks Jennifer! Do it!
My husband loves steamed mussels. He’d be all over this! Congratulations! The Panthers are looking good!. 🙂
They nearly killed me yesterday, Linda! 🙂
Rod orders mussels anytime we eat out…I guess I could try to make them when we eat in…which is about 363 days out of the year! Can you believe I’ve never cooked mussels? I guess I’d better start making some changes this year! Rod would absolutely love these…and so would I!
It’s totally easy, Kathy! I used to only eat them out too, but they’re so inexpensive and simple to make it’s the perfect weeknight in meal!
Call me weird: I love to use mussels in my cooking, and they make such a great presentation, but just can’t get myself to eat them whole. (I’m sure they are pretty tasty.) My husband would love this, and he would be a happy camper with 5 pounds of these babies in front of him!
Dude. I totally read your science post on mussels. I get it. 🙂
I am a huge fan of mussels and these look absolutely delicious! My hubby on the other hand is not… that just means more for me 🙂
Yay! It’s always best when we get more to ourselves! Thanks, Kathleen!
That’s an interesting way to cook mussels, I never heard of it! Now thinking of it, mussels go really well with bear, so cooking them in beer makes total sense! They look delicious!
Thanks, Melanie! We cook everything in beer around here! 🙂