texasmesquite

Cheese rarebit is frugal comfort food

Source: Dallas Examiner




I have a large collection of vintage and antique cookbooks that date from the early 1900s. I love these old books for their common sense recipes, with easy and available ingredients.
1930s Dallas was much different than 2009 Dallas. Items were harder to get, there were no Sonics or Little Caesars Hot and Ready Pizzas. People did things differently.
Once thing that was not that much different was the economy. Then, as now, families had to budget carefully and make their food dollars stretch. This recipe is from a cookbook published during that time. Cheese rarebit is frugal, filling, and delicious. Add a salad and a fruit dessert and you have a highly nutritious meal for about $1.25 a person.
Cheese Rarebit

• 1 tbs butter
• 1/2 pound mild cheddar, or your favorite cheese, or a combination
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp mustard
• 1 tsp Worcestershire
• 3/4 cup milk or 1/2 cup milk and 1/4 cup dark beer
• 1 egg, beaten
• 6 slices whole grain toast (homemade is best)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 6 slices crisply cooked bacon, optional
• 6 slices tomato, optional

1. Melt butter
2. Add milk, salt, mustard, and Worcestershire and whisk until the mixture simmers.
3. Add cheese and whisk until melted.
4. Carefully beat in the eggs, being careful not to let the mixture curdle. Bring back up to a simmer and simmer for two minutes or until very hot. If using beer add it now.
5. Meanwhile make toast with the bread.
6. Cut the toast into 4 points and arrange on a plate. Pour the sauce over. Crumble one piece of bacon over each plate and add the tomato on the side.

Serves 6