Better Welsh Rarebit

The cheese portion of this recipe is great, because you really spread it on top of toast for rarebit or serve it as a cheese spread at a party. It's delicious. As a bonus, discovering this recipe meant I also discovered Quilter's Irish Death, which I think I'm in love with. Sorry I don't have pics, I made this most recently for the Populi guys and their Friday meeting so I was flying out the door!

If recipes had dedications, this one would go to Ruth and James. So here you go, guys, Welsh rarebit - better!

Better Welsh Rarebit

1 lb extra sharp cheddar, broken into smaller chunks

3/4 c dark ale

2 garlic cloves, smashed

1 tbs Dijon

1/2 tsp cayenne

few pinches salt

sliced bread, toasted

Roma tomatoes, sliced

1) Position an oven rack to the upper third of the oven and preheat the broiler.

2) Throw the cheddar, ale, garlic, mustard and cayenne in a food processor and process to an even consistency. Add salt to taste.

3) Spread the cheese onto the toasts in a thick later. Place on a baking sheet and broil for a minute or two until the cheese is just browned on the edges.

4) Lay the tomato slices on top of the cheese and serve warm.

Mashed Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are really good for you with all sorts of good vitamins and dietary fiber. They're also a little confusing, so first a little sweet potato edumacation: The vivid orange potato commonly marketed as "yams" are sweet potatoes. So are the firmer, pale yellow sweet potatoes. They're both sweet potatoes and neither is really a yam! The orange ("yam") sweet potato is a little sweeter and has a creamier texture as well as more beta carotene. So when you're wondering which sweet potato to get think about the context, and for the recipe below use whichever you prefer!

The scariest thing about this recipe for me was not the sweet potato conundrum, but that there's no butter. No butter!! Blew my mind.

Mashed Sweet Potato

(servings: 6)

4 medium sweet potatoes

1/2 c orange juice

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

1) Leaving the skin on, cut the potatoes into medium cubes

2) Steam potatoes until soft (40 minutes)

3) Transfer to a medium pan and mash to desired consistency over low heat

4) Add orange juice, salt, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon

5) Serve topped with olive oil

The Manhattan

Mark's comment about dry vs. sweet vermouth over on the martini post reminded me of this classic cocktail, the Manhattan. It is the first drink to ever incorporate Vermouth as a modifier, but it uses sweet, not dry Vermouth. Of course, like the martini, the Manhattan has as many variations as there are drinkers, so if you were making a "Perfect Manhattan" you would use both dry and sweet Vermouth.

Contrary to its name, the "Perfect Manhattan" is not dubbed for being the most original. A "perfect" cocktail is one that uses both sweet and dry Vermouth in equal parts. So for those wishing to try out what I will boldly dub a "pure" rendition of the drink before tailoring to their own tastes try out the recipe below.

Often said to use Canadian whiskey, I side with rye whiskey. You will likely only find a couple options at local retailers that are strictly rye whiskey, so a Canadian or Bourbon is fine. You also may not have bitters on hand, so pick up some Angostura. They'll likely serve your bar stocking best - oh, and this recipe sets you up nicely for another classic: the Old Fashioned.

The Manhattan

(1 drink)

2 oz rye whiskey

1/2 oz sweet Vermouth

2-3 dashes Angostura bitters

1 maraschino cherry (garnish)

ice

chilled glass

1) Fill a shaker/glass half full of ice cubes.

2) Add all liquid to the glass and stir well.

3) Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with the cherry.