What's for Brunch? Why not Toasties!
Casual fall entertaining calls for a leisurely Sunday brunch, a relaxing get-together for guests and host. For a simple but crowd-pleasing main course, consider Irish toasties, grilled cheese sandwiches that are a classic in Irish pubs. Serve with mimosas and a fruit salad.
A proper Irish toastie uses authentic Irish butter and cheese, which are widely available in the United States in supermarkets and specialty food stores. Blarney Castle Toasties with Honeyed Walnuts features Ireland's Blarney Castle cheese, a mild and creamy cow's milk cheese with rich and velvety undertones reminiscent of a young Gouda.
As with most Irish cheeses, Blarney Castle is made with summer milk from cows that are grass-fed and receive no growth hormones. This creamy cheese melds the sweetness of honey and cinnamon swirl bread with the savory flavors of the Dijon mustard and walnuts.
To serve a group, assemble the sandwiches in advance and cover securely with plastic wrap, ready for grilling. When guests arrive, grill the sandwiches a few at a time, as your largest skillet will hold, or use a griddle to minimize grilling time. Alternatively, grill the sandwiches just before guests arrive and reheat uncovered in a 350-degree oven for about five to eight minutes to warm the cheese and re-crisp the bread.
Blarney Castle Toasties with Honeyed Walnuts
2 slices cinnamon swirl bread
1 tablespoon honey, preferably buckwheat or another deep flavored honey
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
2 ounces Blarney Castle cheese, thinly sliced
3 thin slices red onion (optional)
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Kerrygold Irish butter, at room temperature
Brush one side of 1 slice of bread with the honey. Sprinkle the rosemary and pepper over the honey. Sprinkle the nuts over, then add half the cheese, the onion (if used), and the remaining cheese. Spread one side of the second slice of bread with the mustard and place over cheese, mustard-side down.
Brush top of sandwich with 1 teaspoon of the butter. Place buttered side down in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Spread top with remaining teaspoon butter. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until the underside is golden brown. With a wide spatula, turn the sandwich over. Place a small heatproof plate on top and cook until the underside is golden brown and the cheese has melted, 2 to 3 minutes more. Alternatively, use the spatula to flatten the sandwich. Serve immediately. Makes 1 sandwich.
*Other bread options: multi-grain, oatmeal, pumpernickel, rye
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