Cheddar Chicken Rarebit

You won’t find a quicker or more comforting and delicious meal than this amplified version of Welsh Rarebit. By piling chicken and tomatoes on the toast before spooning on the satiny cheese sauce, the traditional luncheon dish turns into a substantial supper. Crisp slices of bell pepper are all you need for a satisfying accompaniment. You can use grilled or roasted chicken.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 4  ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese
• 3  tablespoons milk or 3  tablespoons chicken broth or 3  tablespoons dry white wine or 3  tablespoons beer
• 1  teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2  tablespoons butter
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2  small  ripe tomatoes, at room temperature
• 2  green bell peppers
• 4  slices  pumpernickel bread
• 6  ounces skinless chicken, shredded

Directions

1. Grate the cheese into a small saucepan. Add the milk and melt the cheese over low heat, stirring continuously, until it is almost melted, about 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the mustard and butter. Keep stirring until the butter is melted, 30 seconds more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Core and thinly slice the tomatoes. Stem and seed the bell peppers, and cut them into 1-inch strips.
3. Toast the bread and set the slices on dinner plates. Cover the toast with a layer of chicken and a layer of tomatoes. Reheat the sauce, and when it is bubbling, spoon it over the tomatoes. In place of chicken you can use sliced smoked turkey. Garnish with the green bell pepper and serve immediately. Serves 2 dinner servings.
4. VARIATIONS: In step 1, add 1/4 cup chopped pimientos to the cheese right before stirring in the butter.
5. For extra kick, add 2 Tablespoons chopped pickled jalapeno peppers to the cheese after you have melted it in step 1.
6. ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR COMPANY: Toast the bread on a baking sheet at 375°F for 10 minutes. Set out the sliced chicken and tomatoes, and let everyone assemble their own open faced sandwiches while you make the sauce.
7. Monday to Friday Chicken.Michele Urvater.