Welsh Rarebit over Toast and Broiled Tomatoes
8 pieces toast (wheat, white, rye, or toasted baguette)
2 large tomatoes
4 pieces cooked bacon (optional)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup apple cider, apple juice, or beer
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, coarsely grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 large egg yolk
Preheat broiler
Cut tomatoes into ½ inch slices. Place on oiled baking sheet (clean up is easier if sheet is covered with foil first)
Broil for 8 minutes
While broiling, melt butter in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over low heat
Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute.
Add cider, apple juice, or beer and milk in a stream, whisking
Stir in mustard and cheese
Simmer over low heat, whisking until smooth, about 3 minutes
While simmering toast bread in oven or toaster
Stack toast, broiled tomatoes, and bacon (if using) on plate
Remove cheese sauce from heat and immediately whisk in yolk
Pour sauce over toast stack and serve
English Salad Cream
1 teaspoon sugar (feel free to cut down the sugar to your tastes!)
1⁄4 teaspoon dry mustard or 1 teaspoon sharp Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄3 cup white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1⁄4 cup mayonnaise
1 hard-boiled egg yolk (optional)
mixed greens
Place all but greens in a small blender or food processor. Blend until combined. Pour over greens.
FUN FACTS:
When the United Kingdom adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, eleven days disappeared.
The most popular town name in Britain is Newtown, which occurs over 150 times.
There are more chickens than humans in England.