“We were greatly surprised by Edward Bridges company… It is impossible to do justice to the hospitality of his attentions towards me; he made a point of ordering toasted cheese for supper, entirely on my account.”
~Jane Austen, 27 August, 1805
This is the same Edward Bridges of whom Jane had written when he married the year before, “Marriage is a great improver.” It certainly seems so! Below is Martha Lloyd’s recipe for toasted cheese. You will notice that it bears a striking resemblance to the recipe for Welsh Rarebit (or rabbit) which follows.
Toasted Cheese
Grate the cheese and add it to one egg, a teaspoonful of mustard, and a little butter. Send it up on toast, or in paper trays.
Well! That’s not much to go on! This recipe is a little more explicit.
Welsh Rarebit (Welsh Rabbit)
Melt over hot, not boiling, water, 4 cups sliced or cubed American or sharp Cheddar cheese. Gradually stir in:
- 3/4 cup cream
- 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- dash of pepper
Serve at once on crisp crackers or toast.
6 servings.
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