Announcing the Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipe Challenge Winner!!

First let me start off with a big ole my bad and an apology... The announcement of the Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipe Challenge winner was supposed to happen on Monday.  I blame sand and saltwater still lingering on the brain for my lapse in memory.  ;)  
Our family beach vacation was wonderful, but my brain didn't adjust well to the return to reality.  

This month's Spiked! ingredient was American Craft Beer.  Recipe submissions could be anything using an American Craft Beer except for a cocktail or drink.

So, without further adieu here are the Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipe Challenge runner-ups (in no particular order)...

Beer Cheese Soup from Cooking on the Front Burner

All American Pub Apple Pie from Love in the Kitchen

Blonde Fatale Pop Tarts from Cooking With Curls

Craft Beer Cheese Fondue from A Night Owl Blog

And without further adieu... 

This month's Spiked! Recipe Challenge winner is...

Beer and Pretzel Caramels from Je Suis Alimentageuse!!

Congratulations, Lisa!!  What a sweet and tasty use of craft beer!  Julie and I will be in touch with you shortly to get you hooked up with your featured ad spots with me and with a gift card from Julie. :)

Julie and I would love to thank each and every one of you who entered this month's Spiked! Recipe Challenge.  We had 20 total American Craft Beer laced entries for our fourth ever challenge.  I created a special Pinterest board for all of the Spiked! recipes, so please feel free to CLICK ON OVER and check them all out (and pin away while you are at it ;) ).  

And in case you missed Julie's and I's Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipes...

Chipotle Bourbon Ale Burgers from Frugal Foodie Mama

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Rice Bowls from This Gal Cooks

Julie and I will be back again in September with an all new Spiked! Recipe Challenge!  We will announce that month's libation of choice on the first of the month.

If you would like to see more information on the Spiked! Recipe Challenge, please click HERE to view the Spiked! page on my blog. 

Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipe Challenge {Submit 'Em If You Got 'Em!}

Hello all!  Julie and I are so excited to see what awesome and delicious American Craft Beer recipes you have come up with for our fourth ever Spiked! Recipe Challenge! 

Be sure to review the all the rules on the Spiked! Recipe Challenge Page and make sure you have included the Spiked! button in your entry post. :)

<a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">href</span>="http://www.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">thefrugalfoodiemama</span>.com/p/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">spi</span>.html"><<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">img</span> border="0" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">src</span>="http://i1163.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">photobucket</span>.com/albums/q543/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">jmurkerson</span>/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">SPIKEDRECIPECHALLENGE</span>_zps72efc014.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">png</span>" /></a>

The linky is only open for 2 days! Once the linky closes, no more recipe submissions will  be accepted.  Only ONE recipe submission per blogger, please.  Please check back on July 22nd here and at This Gal Cooks for the announcement of the Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipe Challenge winner. (This may be delayed to July 29th since I will be soaking up the rays on the beach during the 22nd.  If Julie & I can agree on a winner before I leave for vacation, we will announce the champ on the 22nd. ;) ) 

Be sure to hop around and check out everyone else's American Craft Beer Spiked! recipes.  I mean, you have to take a peek at the competition, right? ;)

Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipe Challenge

It is no big secret that myself and my good foodie blogger friend, Julie from This Gal Cooks  love to cook and bake with alcohol.   Don't believe me?  Then make sure to check out my recipes for Slow Cooker Tequila Lime Beef Barbacoa  and Beer Cheese Risotto with Bacon.  Or Julie's Deep Dish Beer Crust Pizza and Tequila Lime Shrimp Tacos.  

Julie & I have teamed up to bring you all a recipe challenge with a twist (of lime or lemon, if you please ;) )- your recipe must feature the alcoholic beverage being spotlighted that month! Every two months there will be a new Spiked! Recipe Challenge with a new featured boozy beverage.  July's featured ingredient is....  American Craft Beers!  Julie and I are not shy about the fact that we are both beer snobs.  Plus, going with American craft beers is a nod to our country's Independence Day celebration in just a few days.;)

So what exactly is an American Craft Beer?  According to the Brewers Association, the definition of a true American craft beer is that the production is small (less than 6 million barrels of beer produced annually), it is independent (aka, not majority owned by a major brewing company), and is made from traditional brewing methods. So by definition that rules out your Budweisers, Miller Lites, & Coors (sorry, folks!).  

Not sure if the beer you are considering using in your recipe is a craft beer?  Go local. :) Small, local breweries are almost always considered craft beer producers.  
You might also find this list of The 50 Best Craft Beers In America In 2013 from the Huffington Post to be helpful. :)

Image Source

So, let's get to the rules...

Julie and I would like for you to follow us via one of our many social media outlets.  Your choice-Bloglovin, RSS feed, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest... you get the idea.  Plus, following us both will keep you in the loop about upcoming dates for the challenges, announcements of winners, and so on.

You need to sign up by adding a link to your blog's home page in the linky at the end of this post.  Be sure to include your email address when adding your link- this is how we will email you all updates and reminders for the contest!

You must have the Spiked! button in your recipe post to be considered as an entrant.  It would also be SUPER awesome if you included the button on your sidebar, but it is not a requirement to win. ;)

<a <span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">href</span></span>="http://www.<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">thefrugalfoodiemama</span></span>.com/p/<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">spi</span></span>.html"><<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">img</span></span> border="0" <span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">src</span></span>="http://i1163.<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">photobucket</span></span>.com/albums/q543/<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">jmurkerson</span></span>/<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">SPIKEDRECIPECHALLENGE</span></span>_zps72efc014.<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">png</span></span>" /></a>

The recipe you submit MUST BE YOUR OWN.  You can be inspired by another's recipe (and please include a link back somewhere in your post to that original recipe), but you must make that recipe your own in some way.

The recipe must feature the beverage of choice.  This month's Spiked! ingredient is American craft beer.  Your beer in your recipe MUST be an American craft beer for your submission to be considered for judging. Your recipe can be anything BUT a drink recipe.  You must cook or bake with the Spiked! ingredient.  

You must link up your American Craft Beer recipe when the linky goes live on July 15, 2013 to be considered for judging.  The linky will remain open for just two days.  No entries will be accepted past that date.

All recipes will be judged by myself and Julie from This Gal Cooks.  
The winner will be announced one week after the entry linky has closed and will be emailed as well as announced on each of our blogs.  

The winner of the Spiked! Challenge will receive bragging rights of course, but there are a few other perks...

A Frugal Foodie Friends ad spot (250 x 300) with Frugal Foodie Mama for 30 days (starting August 1st)- plus a spotlight post on Frugal Foodie Mama featuring the winner, their winning recipe, and their blog!

The Savory Spot (350 x 150 ad spot) from This Gal Cooks.

For inspiration for your Spiked! recipes, be sure you check out the past winners of the recipe challenges on my Spiked! Recipe Challenge page! :)  

Important Dates to Remember:
July 1st- Sign-ups start
July 8th- Sign-ups end
July 15th- Linky opens to submit your recipe entries (You will have only the 15th and 16th to link up!)
July 22nd- The Spiked! American Craft Beer Recipe Challenge winner will be crowned! (This *may* be delayed to the first week in August since I will be on vacation the week the winner is supposed to be announced.  It will all depend on how hard you all make it on Julie & I to agree on a winner. ;) )

Spread the word!  Send out a tweet about the contest... We have made it super easy with the nifty little button below:)

Tweet