Maximum New England comfort food. Bad cod season? Boyfriend dumped you? Snowmobile engine blew up? Life is cold and dreary and the future looks bleak? Hey, buck up! It's looked like that for millenia in Northern climes. Fix a plate of Welsh Rarebit and have a hot bath. Things will look a lot better in the Spring. Maybe.
3 Tbls. Butter
4 cups grated aged sharp Cheddar cheese
½ cup Porter or other excellent quality dark beer/ale/stout
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Coleman's dry mustard
½ tsp. paprika
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
¼ tsp. salt
2 large eggs, very lightly beaten
8 slices firm good white bread, crustless, toasted & cut into triangles
Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over moderate heat until it sizzles. Add the cheese and all other ingredients except the eggs & bread, stirring continuously until the cheese melts and the mixture is smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and beat in the eggs, then return it to a low heat and stir until the rarebit has thickened. Immediately pour the hot rarebit over the toast points and try to refrain from eating it with your hands. Enjoy the comfort. Lie down and have a little nap.