Beer Bread

Ingredients

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1-3 tablespoons sugar (depending on how sweet you want it)

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon table salt

One 12-ounce bottle good-quality beer

Cooking Directions

Place an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350"F. Place the butter in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish or pan and set it in the oven while the oven is preheating.

Stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the beer until it is just incorporated' (The dough will be sticky and heavy.) Pour most of melted butter out of the pan into a cup; tilt the pan to coat the bottom and sides with the remaining butter. Spoon the bread dough into the pan and spread evenly; if you want, you can drizzle more melted butter over the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the bumpy top is golden brown.

Remove the bread from the oven to a cooling rack; cut the bread into rectangles and serve warm.

Onion bread: Prepare the dough as above. Thinly slice a small onion and separate it into rings. Toss it with the 3 tablespoons melted butter and arrange it over the top of the dough.

Corn bread: Prepare the dough as above, substituting l cup cornmeal for 1 cup of the flour

Whole wheat bread: Prepare the dough as above, substituting 1 cup whole wheat four for 1 cup of the all-purpose flour.