Ok, so I’ll be the first to admit that putting on a lavish fondue spread for guests is a lot of work that begins days ahead gathering all the exotic ingredients you’ll need for your feast. But, I’ll also be the first to admit that I don’t mind doing the work because it is just so much FUN!!! Perhaps not so much fun for those of you who don’t like spending hours in the kitchen making sauces, marinating meats, grating cheeses and chopping a plethora of goodies for dipping and swirling. In fact, it sounds downright dreadful…unless you’re a culinary nut like I am who understands that the payoff is so very well worth the effort.
Of course you could patronize one of the many fondue restaurants that are popping up all over. Hey, we even do that ourselves from time to time. I do have my limits, I need to have guests over before I pull out the fondue paraphernalia and those of you who have been treated to fondue chez moi are truly blessed (but you know that already!)
By request, the following is a cheese fondue recipe that I used recently when hosting my in-laws. My mother-in-law fell in love with the cheese mixture and rather than clear the table of its remnants, the cheese pot ended up beside her! Shhh! Did I say that out loud?
Not So Traditional Cheese Fondue Recipe
6 ounces grated or chopped Swiss cheese
6 ounces ” gruyere cheese
6 ounces ” pepper Jack cheese
4 ounces ” good quality Parmesan cheese
1 TB finely minced garlic
1 tiny pinch nutmeg
1 tiny pinch cayenne pepper
1 pinch grated white pepper
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup kirsch
1. Grate all your cheeses and place in a large microwave safe bowl.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and microwave on high in 1 minute intervals stirring well after each minute. Continue until the cheese is well melted but NOT bubbly around the edges. This will take 4-5 minutes or so.
3. Pour cheese mixture into a ceramic fondue pot over a hot water bath and heat source.
4. Serve with cubed fresh bread, baby carrots, granny smith apple wedges and cauliflower florets.
