Author: Sean

I love meals I can make once and eat all week long. Soup is one of those meals. However, not any old soup will do. I like soups that eat like a meal and stealing a line from the Campbell’s Soup debate- I like soups you can either eat with a spoon or a fork.

Unfortunately most pre-packaged and processed soups lack flavor and are loaded with salt and preservatives to make up for it. Solution- we’re going to make a kick-ass homemade soup from scratch that is heart healthy, gut slimming, filling, tastes amazing and doesn’t take much time to do.

In today’s Cooking with Beer we’re going to throw together a hearty Chicken and Vegetable Soup using Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale.

Mmmm… Let’s get started.
 

Irish Cream Ale Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Kilkenny Chicken, Lentil and Vegetable Soup

 
Here’s what you need:

• 1 can of Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale
• 1 qt or 900 ml of Chicken Broth (preferably organic or at least reduced sodium)
• 1 Chicken Breast
• 1/2 cup of Dry Quinoa
• 1 small Zucchini, 2 Carrots, 2 Celery Stalks, 2 Medium Onions, 2 Cloves of Garlic
• 1 can (15 oz) of Lentils
• 1 can (24 oz) of Diced Tomatoes
• 2 cups of Cauliflower
• 2 cups of Broccoli
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried Basil
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper

 
What to do:

Wash, peel and chop the zucchini, carrots, celery, onions and garlic. Add 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to a saucepan at medium heat then add the chopped vegetables. Cook for 10 minutes stirring every 30 seconds or so. Meanwhile in another saucepan bring to a boil the Chicken Broth, Can of Tomatoes, Can of Kilkenny and half cup of Quinoa. Once the vegetables have cooked for 10 to 12 minutes transfer the boiling beer broth to the pot. Rinse and drain your lentils, chop the cauliflower and broccoli into small florets and chicken into small pieces. Add everything to the soup. Stir, reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes with the lid on. Season with a little sea salt and pepper and enjoy.

Yours in health,

Sean

PS. Follow the link for more Cooking With Beer Recipes.

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You heard it here first. Well… maybe not first but I’m saying it again- detox diets aren’t fun.

Finishing up day 9 of a 10-day metabolic detox and I’m looking forward to it being over.

I’m no rookie when it comes to fasting, detoxing and cleansing the body- having done my share after being exposed to the practice while studying to become a Chiropractor.

Yes they can kick-off a new fitness, weight-loss or healthy lifestyle and yes it is important to give the body’s elimination organs (kidneys, liver, colon, lungs and skin) a break from time to time, but do not think for a second that detoxing will re-write all the wrongs of the past.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.

20 years of shitty eating cannot be reversed by a weeks worth of juicing.

More important are the daily choices you make with regards to what you put in your mouth (nutrition) and how you choose to move (exercise).

Detoxes have been around for a long time in the alternative health field and can be useful if done right based on your goals. I am more a supporter of the eat well, move well and think well philosophy and the following 3 tips go a long way to keep you healthy and detoxified without having to fast, cleanse or go on a crazy detox:
 

3 Simple things to do for Daily Detoxification

Still Sold on Doing a Detox Diet

 
Here are reasons to consider trying one:

My 10 Day Detox Diet

 
This time around… I did a 10 day express metabolic detoxification cleanse with nutritional support from Metagenics [Ultraclear Renew (vitamin support, meal replacement and protein powder) and Advaclear (antioxidant capsules)]. It is a modified elimination diet where you remove certain foods each day throughout the 10 days to lighten the toxic load on the body allowing for detoxification.

Day 1 – I eliminated fleshy proteins (fish, beef, pork, poultry, etc…) along with refined sugars, artificial sweeteners (Sucrose, HFCS, etc…), packaged and processed foods, alcohol and caffeine.

Day 2 – I eliminated eggs and dairy in addition to everything the day before. Nutritional support in the form of a powder and antioxidant supplement started today.

Day 3 – Same as the previous two days and also removed Gluten grains from my diet. Continued with the nutritional support.

Day 4 – Remove remaining grains, nuts and seeds. You are now only eating vegetables, fruits and legumes plus nutritional support.

Day 5 thru 7 – Eliminate legumes and consume only cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage and brussel sprouts), raw greens (spinach, romaine, red, green lettuce) and apples and pears. Increase nutritional support.

Day 8 – Add back fruits, vegetables and white rice to my diet. Continue nutritional support.

Day 9 – Add back gluten free grains, legumes and nuts. Finish what’s left of the nutritional support.

Day 10 – Done. Gently add food groups back to my diet.
 

How I made out on the Detox Diet

 
This was one of the easiest detoxes I’ve done. Days 1 – 4 were not that hard. I did experience headaches towards the end of day 2 which were most likely associated with my cold turkey withdrawal from my daily Americano (coffee).

I continued my training throughout the cleanse and did 3 days of Strength Resistance Training with 2 days of High Intensity Interval Training. I noticed a drop in energy and performance on Days 5 – 7, which is pretty much due to the fact that brussel sprouts alone can’t fuel a good workout.

Days 5 – 7 were the hardest mentally but as soon as day 8 got here and I could eat all the fruits, vegetables and rice I wanted, I was fine.

One thing I did throughout the week was to make sure and drink a ton of water along with plenty of rest (I guess that’s two things). And now with day 10 here I’m excited to be done, drink a coffee and perhaps a cold brewski (or 2) towards the end of the week.

All in all – I feel great. I did not lose any weight but my belly feels less bloated. My mind is clearer and energy levels in the gym are sky high.
 

Detox Diet Wrap up

 
As much as I hate detox diets I usually try to cleanse once or twice per year. Would I do this detox again? Yes. But I stress the importance of eating well, exercising and proper hydration on an ongoing basis. If you’re considering detoxing start with those 3 simple steps first and it will do wonders to how you feel.

Yours in health,

Sean

Click Here and Start Earning Your Beer

He went 924 days without a win on tour and throughout the time endured a life altering marriage scandal, corporate sponsorship drops, parted ways with his caddie and multiple injuries.

None of that seemed to matter as Tiger Woods putted out to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday. The win was his first in 27 tour events and moves him to No. 6 in the world golf rankings.

Like him or not it was nice to see him win again.

Tiger is one of the fittest golfers on tour and revolutionized the sport with his intense training regimens. Most have followed suit and you’d be hard pressed to find guys on tour that don’t hit the gym regularly.

Follow the 20 Minute Golf Workout to help improve your core rotational strength, balance and add 10 yards to your drive.

Watch below to see how it’s done:
 

20 Minute Golf Workout

Golf Circuit

 
Warm up:

 
 
Rest briefly and repeat warm-up circuit 2 more times.

Once warm-up is completed rest 60 seconds and go immediately into this full body circuit:

 
 
Rest 10-20 seconds between each exercise. Once you complete all 5 exercises in sequence, rest for 60 to 75 seconds and then go back to exercise # 1. Repeat the circuit 3 more times for a total of 4 sets.

Alternate between the above workout and the original 20 Minute Golf Circuit 3 times per week for 4 weeks and you’ll be driving the ball like Tiger in no time.

See you on the links.

Sean

Click Here and Start Earning Your Beer

An interesting conversation was had last week over a few pints of beer about Blood Alcohol Contents, Drinking and Driving and How to be Safe when out for a night on the town.

Short answer, do not drink and drive when out.

In order to get a better understanding of the issue I have guest author Richard Jacobs who is the chief editor of MyDUIattorney, to put an end to the confusion once and for all.

Richard, take it away…
 

 

The Two Drink Rule: true or false?

 
If you are aware of drinking and driving, you must have heard of the “Two Drink Rule”, which people use to determine whether they can drive back home from a bar, pub or party safely or not. A lot of people make the mistake of following this rule by assuming that having two drinks will keep them under the legal limit of 0.08 and they can safely reach home. This is what can get them in trouble.

If you are driving back home after having a couple of drinks and happen to pass through a DUI checkpoint or are stopped by a police officer as a DUI suspect, you will be asked to submit to a breathalyzer test.

Regardless of your individual tolerance to alcohol, two drinks can be more than enough to make you blow a 0.08 or greater on the breath test. Not realizing you were over the legal limit, you might utter something like, “But I only had two beers, Officer!” in disbelief.

However, the fact that you did not realize your were over the allowed legal limit for BAC is not a valid defense for DUI/DWI and will lead to a DUI charge. In order to avoid such a situation, you need to understand what blood alcohol content or blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is and how it works.
 

How our Body Metabolizes Alcohol

 
The amount of alcohol you consume directly affects your blood alcohol concentration, regardless of the number of drinks you have had. All states have implemented a per se limit of 0.08 BAC, which means that irrespective of your individual tolerance, you will be charged with drunk driving if you have a BAC of 0.08 or more.

The amount of alcohol in the blood does not depend on the number of drinks you’ve had, but it depends on the amount of alcohol consumed in a specific time period. BAC also depends on the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream and will depend on several factors such as sex, weight, percentage of body fat, fitness-level, tolerance-level and how much you’ve had to eat.

Since so many factors are involved in calculating BAC levels, it is very likely that the same sized glass of wine taken by two different people at the same time could lead to very different BAC levels.

To make things easy for you, you can use our BAC calculator to help you get a rough estimate of BAC levels.

Irrespective of the fact how BAC levels are affected, the rate at which alcohol is metabolized and eliminated from the human body is fairly consistent, which is on average 0.015 per hour. This means that anyone with a BAC of 0.15 will take ten hours to get it all out of their system.

So if you decide to go home after the bar shuts at 2am with a 0.15 BAC level, and intend to drive to work the next morning after 5 hours of sleep, you could still be over the limit.

The concept that you can “sleep it off” is totally false as sleep has zero effect on how quickly alcohol is expelled from the body. You may not be feeling drunk the next morning, but you may still have a blood alcohol concentration over the allowed legal limit.

Most people believe that they can “sober up faster” by drinking coffee, eating a big meal, taking aspirin, drinking lots of water or caffeinated soda, but these are big misconceptions. These things can help you feel more sober, but they will have zero affect on your BAC level.

Only time will make the difference in your blood alcohol levels.

Variation in the Amount of Alcohol Contained in Drinks

 
When drinking at a bar, restaurant or pub, you have to understand that the amount of alcohol in a drink varies per serving. It depends on how much tequila, triple sec or other strong liquors were used in making the drink, which is impossible to measure.

Many bars and restaurants offer small and large glass sizes, but precise serving sizes are never measured. In fact, many bars and restaurants take a “free pour” approach to serving alcohol. Depending on how strong the beer was, you can be way above the legal limit after just one drink.

To help you understand how the blood alcohol content levels vary with weight and the number of drinks consumed, we have included the following reference chart. The chart only takes into account two factors which include the number of drinks and weight. Other factors will influence your BAC levels, which means you could have lower or higher BAC levels than the ones given below.

The safest rule to follow is to not drink and drive.
 

 
 

Use the chart to get an estimate of your BAC level, depending on your weight and the number of drinks consumed. Once you find the estimated BAC, subtract the percent of alcohol eliminated during the time elapsed since you started drinking.
 

 
 
Again, to avoid any misfortune, your safest option is to not drink and drive at all!

Be safe,

Richard Jacobs
 

Author Bio

 
Richard Jacobs is a chief editor since early 2007, and currently works for MyDUIattorney. A website that helps you to find the right DUI Attorney, you can search for a New Jersey DWI Lawyer online, anytime!
 


And now you have the truth about drinking and driving.

Thanks again to Richard for taking time to answer these questions.

Be safe and make smart choices,

Sean

Click Here and Start Earning Your Beer

This week on Cooking with Beer we’ll be making Beer Mussels.

These Beer Mussels are fresh from Prince Edward Island and not the kind you get after a few too many pints at the bar. Those are Beer Muscles, not to be confused with Beer Mussels and unlike the latter should be kept away for no one to see.

Sticking with the Maritime theme (region of Canada) we will use Alexander Keith’s Red Amber Ale to steam our Mussels. We are also going to spice up today’s dish by adding spicy Italian sausage to the mix.

Mussels are quick and easy to prepare, fun to eat and a very popular dish here in Quebec. Head to any local pub and order the classic “Moules Frits” and you won’t be disappointed.

Cooking with beer’s take on this classic dish will be served accompanied by a spinach salad drizzled with homemade Balsamic and Hummus dressing. Let’s get started…

Watch below to see how it’s done:
 

Beer Mussels

Keith’s Red Amber Ale Mussels

 
Here’s what you need:

• 4 lbs of Fresh Mussels (we’re using Mussels from PEI, best in the world)
• 1 bottle of your favorite Beer (we’re using Alexander Keith’s Red Amber Ale)
• 2 Cloves of garlic
• Juice of ½ a lime
• ½ a sweet onion
• ½ a Red Bell Pepper
• 2 Spicy Italian Sausages
• 2 tablespoons of butter (yep butter)
• Fresh Parsley
• Sea salt and pepper

 
How to put it all together:

Dice up the red bell pepper, onion and garlic and place in a large pot on medium high with the 2 tablespoons of butter. Cook until the onion is translucent (approximately 3 minutes). Slice your Italian sausages into small pieces and add to the pot cooking for 5 more minutes or until lightly browned.

Add the bottle of beer, juice of ½ a lime and Mussels to the pot, cover and steam for approximately 7-8 minutes. Mussels are ready when they open (do not eat any Mussels which have not fully opened). Season with sea salt, pepper, fresh parsley and serve with the beer broth. Enjoy.
 

Spinach Salad

 
You need:

• 4-6 cups of Fresh Spinach
• ½ Red Bell Pepper
• 2/3 of a Long English Cucumber
• 10 Cherry tomatoes

 
What to do:

Wash your vegetables. Chop your spinach if the leaves are too big and place in a bowl. Roughly chop your Red Bell Pepper and tomatoes. Peel and roughly chop your cucumber. Add everything to the bowl. Drizzle with homemade Balsamic and Hummus dressing, toss and enjoy.
 

Balsamic and Hummus Salad Dressing

 
You need:

• 6 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar
• ½ tsp of sea salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste
• 1 big spoonful of traditional Hummus

 
What to do:

Put everything into a Mason jar, cover and shake until everything is mixed thoroughly. Makes enough for a few salads. Drizzle a bit over the spinach salad, toss and enjoy.

Mmmmm so good.

Yours in health,

Sean

PS. Follow the link for more Cooking With Beer Recipes.

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This weeks Thirsty Thursday will review Bitburger Drive Alcoholfrei, Buckler, and Kaliber non-alcoholics- all available in most beer stores.
 

Why the heck are we doing non-alcoholic beer reviews? Well… let me tell you.

 
There are a number of reasons why it is important to have a look at the non-alcoholic class of beers. First and most importantly our father made the choice some 20 odd years ago to give up drinking and is always on the look out to find good “Near Beers” (He’s probably spilled more beer in his earlier days than I’ve had to drink).

In honor of him, we’ve decided to help with his quest to find the best non-alcoholic cold one.

Secondly, I came across a great non-alcoholic malt beverage at the bar this week and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Who knows, maybe there are more out there…
 

The Setting

 
After a long drive into Montreal to celebrate a friends new job- I was thirsty for a beer. We went to support his move to manage a relatively new drinking establishment called the Royal Phoenix Bar in the hip mile-end region of the city.

After quenching my thirst with a pint of Sleeman’s Honey Brown (the happy hour special) I was ready for another. With a long drive home I pondered my alternatives and being the responsible man I am I asked the bartender if he had any non-alcoholic beers available.

To which the barkeep shockingly replied, “As a matter of fact we do. Bitburger Drive. We just got it in last week and I didn’t even know it was non-alcoholic. I actually served it to some of our patrons when they asked for an import.”

From the outside these Non-Alcoholic beers look like regular beers… Lets find out if they taste similar on the inside.

Bitburger Drive Alcoholfrei
Imported from Germany
0.0 ABV

I haven’t had a non-alcoholic beer in sometime and was shocked (in a good way) after tipping this bad boy into the pint.

It poured a golden straw color with a slight froth that hung around a little. The aroma wasn’t all that powerful and smelled a bit off, which from memory is like most “near beers” I’ve sampled.

It was crisp, clean and nicely carbonated, reminding me of its father (traditional Bitburger). Often, non alcoholic beers tend to be on the sweet and sugary side but not so in the Drive’s case.

All in all, I rather enjoyed the Bitburger Alcoholfrei and barely noticed I wasn’t drinking something a little more potent.

Would I order another? Absolutely and had the barkeep thrown one my way before he realized it was alcohol free, I probably wouldn’t have noticed either.

Not to be outdone… Jon wanted to get in on the action and gave a couple near beers a try (for my father’s sake of course).

 
Here is what he found:

BUCKLER Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage
Imported from Holland
0.5% ABV

The Buckler malt beverage is brewed by Heineken and imported from Amsterdam so it carries similar traits to other European brews minus the alcohol and calories. How many calories? There are just 65 calories in a bottle of Buckler.

The appearance of Buckler in a pint glass resembled much of the lighter style beers found in most bars. The shimmering honey color was topped with a thick layer of foam. The beer released minimal carbonation.

The aroma was over powered with heavy European hops.

The taste was light and sweet with very little crisp.

The Verdict:

This particular brew was on the watery side but if someone handed it to me in a bar I wouldn’t have been able to taste the difference between it and some of the light domestics most drink.

KALIBER
Imported from the brewers of Guinness
Less than 0.5% ABV

The label described this Malt Beverage by its rich amber color and full body, delivering all the taste of a premium import with less alcohol than beer.

The appearance of the Kaliber in a pint glass was light amber with very little to no head.

The aroma was strong homemade bread with heavy yeast characteristics.

The flavor was deep and the malts tasted of burnt caramel. On a side note; Guinness is also made from burnt malts.

How many calories in Kaliber Non Alcoholic beer? This darker malt beverage has a whopping 71 calories (hint of sarcasm). Again a favorable alternative to those really counting calories or those who chose not to consume alcohol.

The Verdict:

I think most would be fooled as to what they were drinking when trying to compare this reasonably good non-alcoholic to a domestic. I did notice a slight difference but it was very minor and was pleased with the result.
 

One versus the other

 
Between the two I tried, Buckler won this battle.

And a word for the wise… make sure the Non-Alcoholic beers are served ICE COLD. Makes all the difference.
 

 
 
The next time you’re out and about and happen to be behind the wheel don’t be afraid to try a couple of these Non-Alcoholic brews and let’s eliminate the stigma that comes with ordering one at a bar. There isn’t any shame in drinking one of these vacuum evaporated cold ones, especially when you’re the DD.

Cheers,

Jon and Sean

Click Here and Start Earning Your Beer

Most who know me have seen me go to town when it comes to Mexican food at one time or another. Known for my fresh made Guac, I can also put back my fare share of nachos. The problem with nachos is the calories add up very quickly.

To get my Mexican fix I stick to healthy recipes like this one. This tasty recipe is a regular I cook up and one to keep in your bag of tricks when guests unexpectedly show up.

The Corona Lime Fajita recipe is quick and easy, tastes incredible and is made fresh from scratch (no fajita kits in my kitchen). You’re going to love em… I do.

Watch below to see how I whip them up:
 

Corona Lime Fajitas

Here’s what you need for the Corona Lime Fajitas:

• 2 Chicken Breasts
• 2 Red Bell Peppers
• 1 bottle of Corona
• 2 Medium Red Onions or 1 large Red Onion
• 2 Limes
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon of chili powder
• 1 teaspoon of paprika
• ½ teaspoon of ground cumin
• ½ cup of Greek Yogurt
• 4-6 8-inch Whole-Wheat tortillas
• 2-4 Ounces of Cheddar Cheese
• ½ Cup of fresh spinach (chopped)
• Guac (homemade)
• Fresh Salsa (homemade)

 
Here’s what you need for the Guacamole:

• 2 Ripe Avocados
• 1 clove of garlic
• 5 Cherry tomatoes
• 2 table spoons of diced onion
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper
• Small pinch of cayenne pepper

 
Here’s what you need for the Fresh Salsa:

• 1 small red chili pepper
• 20-25 Cherry Tomatoes
• Small bunch of Cilantro
• 2 table spoons of diced onion
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper

 
Here’s how to put it all together:
 

Fajitas

 
Halve and seed your red peppers, then slice lengthwise into thin strips. Peel, halve and finely slice your red onions as well. Slice your chicken breasts into thin strips and place everything into a bowl.

Pour a half-cup of Corona, squeeze the juice of 1 lime and add 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the bowl. Dump in your cumin, paprika, chili powder and season with a little sea salt and black pepper. Mix well and lit sit, tenderizing while you prepare your Guac and Salsa.
 

Salsa

 
Roughly chop your cherry tomatoes and cilantro. Finely chop your chili pepper and dice up 2 tablespoons of onion. Add everything to a bowl then drizzle in 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, squeeze in the juice of 1 lime and stir everything together.
 

Guacamole

 
Halve, seed and score the insides of your 2 ripe avocados. Use a spoon to scoop out the fleshy inside and place in a bowl. Finely chop the garlic, dice up another 2 tablespoons of onion, roughly chop your 5 cherry tomatoes and add everything to the bowl. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, squeeze in the juice of 1 lime and season with a little sea salt and pepper. Mix and mash with a fork.
 

Serve it up

 
Turn a grill pan to medium high, add the chicken mixture using tongs and cook until chicken is golden brown (roughly 7-9 minutes). Keep an eye of the chicken, turning the pieces so they cook evenly and don’t burn.

Heat your tortillas in the microwave for 15 seconds, spread some guacamole in them, and add your chicken and veggies, a little chopped spinach, a spoonful of Greek yogurt, fresh salsa and a little cheddar cheese. Squeeze over a little lime, sprinkle on some fresh cilantro and go to town.

Sooooo delicious.

Yours in health,

Sean

PS. Follow the link for more Cooking With Beer Recipes.

Click Here and Start Earning Your Beer