A Taste of Ireland

St Patrick's Day is more than simply wearing green and eating potato filled dished. It's a holiday where everyone suddenly becomes Irish and heads over to the local pub for a few pints.

Instead of going out this year and consuming green beer try rounding up your lads and lasses for a nicely chilled Irish stout and some tasty finger food.

Today, Ireland is renowned for it's dairy produce, especially it's butter, cream and wide variety of cheeses. Rarebit, a creamy, warm cheese dip is a traditional Irish dish that incorporates Irish cheese and is certainly a crowd pleaser.
This simple and interactive variation of the classic is designed for a fondue - style dish.

Tipsy Dublin Rarebit

4 ounces hard Irish cheese, grated fine
1 teaspoon of mustard powder
1 ounce of butter
2 tablespoons of stout
1 Teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 loaf fresh unsliced multi grain bread
Optional: assortment of vegetables for dipping such as mini carrots, celery sticks, baby zucchini and radishes.

Tear bread into chunks and prepare vegetables.Over low heat, melt the butter in a pan. Sprinkle the dry mustard powder over the melted butter and stir until incorporated .Add cheese and stir constantly until melted to a smooth consistency. Stir in the stout and cayenne. Spoon into fondue dish or keep over a bowl of hot water to maintain heat. Serve with dipping forks and cold stout.

Enjoy!

By Christine Ostiguy