Traditional English Pub Style Ploughman's Lunch

Just the words Ploughman's Lunch, conjures up images of lazy lunches sat outside with friends, in the Beer Garden of an old Country Pub! This is one of the most famous of pub lunches - so simple and yet so satisfying, especially if taken with a pint of real ale or cider! Although the term "Ploughman’s Lunch" was first coined in the 1930’s, as part of a very successful marketing campaign, the concept behind it goes back much further. Throughout the centuries, agricultural workers would take their lunch out to the fields with them; this usually consisted of bread and cheese with ale or cider - a perfect combination! It's easy to prepare and should consist of at least the following: crusty bread and butter; a selection of English cheeses; pickled onions; chutney and pickles. This also makes excellent picnic food, and is easy to pack and transport. I have two pickle recipes on Recipezaar that would be wonderful with this lunch: A British Classic - Pan Yan Pickle and The Almost Original Branston Pickle Recipe!.

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Serves: 2
• Yields: 2 Ploughman's Lunches

Ingredients

• 4  slices  crusty bread, thick slices or 2  large  crusty bread rolls or 1⁄2 baguette
• 1 -2  ounce  fresh butter
• 8  ounces  mature farmhouse cheddar cheese or 8  ounces Stilton cheese or 8  ounces wensleydale cheese or 8  ounces cheshire cheese or 8  ounces lancashire cheese or 8  ounces double Gloucester cheese or 8  ounces red leicester cheese
• 4  large  pickled onions
• 4  tablespoons chutney (such as, branston pickle, Pan Yan Pickle or ploughman's pickle) or 4  tablespoons pickles (such as, branston pickle, Pan Yan Pickle or ploughman's pickle)
• 2  tomatoes
• 4  spring onions
•  salt
•  pepper

Directions

1. Arrange the buttered bread on a large platter or plate; you can also leave the bread unbuttered, and place a pat of butter on the side instead.
2. Cut 4 ozs of cheese per person, it is nice to have a choice of two cheese, such as 2 ozs Cheddar and 2 ozs Stilton - arrange these on the same platter/plate.
3. Put the pickled onions and chutney or pickles on the side of the plate, along with a fresh tomato left whole and the spring onions.
4. Make sure there is salt and pepper available, as well as some good real ale or cider!
5. Enjoy!