St Patrick's Day :: Guinness Crackers Appetizer

Last week I was at Metropolitan Market and they had the best looking Irish Cheddar cheese.  I've been trying to come up with an appetizer to use the cheese and I've struggled.  Mostly I've struggled because I didn't want anything too heavy.  We have piles of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes - and a FABULOUS dessert that I'll be sharing tomorrow.  So too much right of the bat would be ridiculous.  I need our friends to still be hungry!

So I decided to serve the cheese unadulterated and make crackers infused with Guinness to go with them.  They are good.  Quite good.  

Guinness Crackers

2 cups all purpose flour

4 tablespoons cold butter, diced

½ cup Guinness beer 

2 egg yolks

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon coarse ground salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a food processor combine flour and butter and mix until sandy.  In a small bowl, whisk together guinness, 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of milk.  With processor running add guinness mixture in a slow stream until dough begins to hold together.  Roll out dough on a floured surface to ¼ inch thick.  Cut into rectangles 1" x 3".  Whisk together remaining egg yolk and milk and brush across the top of the crackers.  Sprinkle with salt.

Bake 20 minutes until golden brown.  Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet.  

Photo via Foodists.ca