Swap Shop: Cold temps beg for classic comfort fare
Grilled cheese, chicken and dumplings warm the soul
Comfort foods — including an update on classic cheese toasties, requested by H.F. of South Bend and chicken and dumplings, requested by M.A. of Chicago — increase in popularity when the temperatures decrease and the ease of preparation of such dishes goes up.
The Irish Dairy Board offers a recipe for modern and easy Blarney Castle Toasties with Honeyed Walnuts, perfect for brunch when made with cinnamon swirl bread and served with fruit salad and mimosas. Other bread options include multi-grain, oatmeal, pumpernickel and rye.
Blarney Castle Toasties are made with Ireland’s Blarney Castle cheese, a mild and creamy cow’s milk cheese with rich and velvety undertones reminiscent of a young Gouda. The Kerrygold brand of Blarney Castle cheese is available in large supermarkets and specialty cheese stores.
Because H.F. was interested in serving toasties to a group, the Irish Dairy Board, a marketing and selling cooperative that exports Irish butter and cheeses worldwide, recommends that H.F. assemble the sandwiches in advance, covering them securely with plastic wrap.
When guests arrive, grill the sandwiches a few at a time in the largest skillet you own 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 5 to 8 minutes to warm the cheese and re-crisp the bread.
Cindy Panayotovich’s recipe for Easy Chicken and Dumplings relies on rotisserie chicken as a time-saver, though you can substitute your own stewed or roasted chicken.
I would love a great recipe for a beer-cheese soup, which my husband loves.
C.L., Park Ridge
Will someone share a from-scratch recipe for ranch dressing?
M.A., Chicago
Please provide me with a recipe for authentic Hungarian goulash.
D.B., Gurnee
Send recipes and requests to: Swap Shop, Chicago Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans, 9th Floor, Chicago 60654 or by e-mail, swapshop@suntimes.com.
All mail must include a daytime telephone number. Sorry, requests can’t be answered personally.