Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Cheesy Fondue

Nel and I spent Saturday evening making delicious cheese fondue.  After seeing Midnight in Paris in the theatre, (which was by the way a fantastic movie!) we came back to her place to make fondue.  This is one of our favorites to treat ourselves to.  


It's especially fun to make around the holidays, but honestly we love cheese year round!  You can pick up a fondue set for around $20.00 at Bed Bath and Beyond.  We bought the ingredients from Trader Joe's, but you should be able to find them at any grocery store.  Here is the scrumptious recipe we normally use from Fondue by Lorraine Turner:


Gruyère with Asparagus

Serves 4
Preperation time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking time: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients:


1 garlic clove, peeled and halved
generous 1 3/4 cups dry white wine
5 tbsp. brandy
14 oz / 400 g Gruyère cheese, grated
7 oz / 200 g Emmental cheese, grated
3 1/2 oz / 100 g Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tbsp. cornstarch
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
salt and pepper

Dippers: (just a few ideas...  it's fun to experiment with a large assortment of dippers):


fresh crusty bread, cut into bite-size pieces
small pieces of asparagus
green apple
olives
mini sausages or dry salami
veggies (carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.)

1. Rub the inside of a flameproof fondue pot with the garlic.  Discard the garlic.  Pour in the wine, then add 3 tablespoons of the brandy, transfer to a pot on the stove, and bring to a gentle simmer over low heat.

2. Add a handful of grated cheese and stir constantly until metled.  Continue to add the cheese gradually, stirring constantly after each addition.  Repeat until all the cheese has been added and stir until thoroughly melted and bubbling gently.  (Getting the right consistency of the fondue is a little tricky.  Once the cheese is blended, it will be somewhat runny, but when you add the cornstarch solution, the cheese should thicken.  You can always add more cheese to thicken it up, and it will continue to set once you are finished cooking it.)



3. In a bowl, mix the cornstarch with the remaining brandy.  Stir into the fondue and continue to stir for 3-4 minutes, or until thickened and bubbling.  Stir in the nutmeg and season to taste.

4. Using protective mits, transfer the fondue into your fondue pot, and light the tabletop burner to keep it warm.  To serve, invite your guests to spear the dippers onto fondue forks and dip them into the fondue.


Fondue is not only a delicious treat, but an edible conversation piece.  


Our favorite part has to be tasting each dipper, or a combination of dippers with the cheese.  There is so much flavor and variety, which we LOVE.  If you try the recipe, let us know how it turned out and what your favorite dipper was!


32 comments:

Becky said...

Oh that sounds good,I will have to go check that out.I do love Bed Bath and Beyond they have awesome things.The cheese looks so yummy.

Happy Tuesday!

Jenna said...

Looks so yummy! My husband and I went to a fondue restaurant a few years back and it was so good but the price was crazy...I need to get a foundue set! yum! Have a wonderful day! hugs, Jennifer

Vicki said...

I love fondue ... anything that lets me drown myself in cheese is lovely in my book!!! :-) YUM!

parTea lady said...

After seeing this delicious recipe for cheese fondue, I wish I hadn't given away my fondue set a few years ago.

Your blog is wonderful. I love your header and the striking black and white print sidebars. The travel photos and projects are great (love the wine cork memo board.

I hope to have some time to come back soon and explore more.

Maureen

Unknown said...

How fun, and looks delish! I love cheese on anything! Love the table setting also. Thanks for the recipe. I'll be making this for my next gathering.

Dawne Boynton Polis said...

Oh, Sheri, I'm so glad you and your daughter got to see "Midnight in Paris"! isn't that just the most fun movie of the summer?? I'm so glad we got to see it on the big screen, but can't wait to see it again on Netflix.

I used to love Fondue...haven't made it in years, but I bought the pot part at a yard sale a few years back. Now you've inspired me to find some forks! Looks like a great recipe, and this is a great post!!
XO :)
dawne

C'est moi Claudette said...

Clabber girl cornstarch and cocktail pups??? Never heard of either one of these Sheri. I had a little chuckle though, lol.
Glad you had a great night with your daughter. How wonderful that she likes hanging out with her mom ; )
Cheers to a great week ahead of us.
Love Claudie
xoxoxox

Unknown said...

Oh this looks like so much fun. I must show my niece who is just starting to entertain now that she has her first home...I need to see that movie..
After thought, I better buy her a fondue set first! and the book and stock her with a full recipe...oh this might have to be a Christmas gift! LOL!

Toyin O. said...

That looks really good, thanks for sharing.

C'est moi Claudette said...

Hi Sheri
Yes, that would be a great idea to put your name at the top of the post, not the bottom so we know who wrote it. Makes things easier in our little wee heads, lol.
Let me know when you see the movie. My gf in Van. was suppose to see it too, but she didn't. I've heard diff. reviews.
xoxoxox

Kim-A Creative Spirit said...

Thanks so much for coming by A CREATIVE SPIRIT and saying hi.... I love the look of your blog - LOVE the red rose..... and am now following... I hope you follow back.... I would love to get to know you.

YUM YUM YUM.... I love fondue... and I love that you use Charles Shaw (2 buck chuck) wine!!!!

ALSO, stop by and comment often as ALL comments in a month are in a drawing for a gift card....

Anonymous said...

This looks so good! We used to make fondue when our kids were little - they loved it too!
Thanks for popping in to see me.
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Tara said...

Oh sure, go ahead and post food when I am starving and too lazy to fix anything! Looks yummy!

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Sheri,
This is fabulous. Thank you for sharing the recipe, it looks so good. We love to have casual times like this with dipping foods. Cheese is my favorite with everything.
Great pics to inspire.
Have a great midweek. Thank you for stopping by for tea today. So glad you are taking time out for tea too. Wish you could stop over in person.
Hugs, Celestina Marie

poppilinnstudios said...

That fondue looks delicious! I haven't made it in years! Great idea for a evening with friends. Thanks for sharing.
-Lynn

Mona said...

Yummers! That first picture has my mouth watering. Seriously! I WILL be making this soon for my gang. Thanks, Nel. Mona

Daniella said...

How fun!! I haven't had fondue in years! I bet my boys would love it!
Thanks for the inspiration and recipe!!
xxDaniella

Dear Sweet Home said...

Yummy! That looks good ~ we enjoyed eating at the Melting pot a couple of years ago and have not had fondue since! We will have to try this :) thanks for your sweet comments on my blog :) ~Kim

Hope said...

I love to fondue!!! Haven't done it in years. Maybe I will try your scrumptious recipe. Thanks for stopping by Art & Soul Bloomington!
XO~Hope

Happy@Home said...

Oh my, that looks so delicious!! I would love to dip a nice tart apple into your fondue pot. Our families favorite restaurant to visit for a special occasion is the Melting Pot.
Thanks for your recent visit and kind comments on my blog. I love that you and your daughters are doing this blog together. How wonderful and so pretty and lovely music. I shall return. Off to become a follower.

Irene said...

Oh, I love anything with cheese!!! And that dish looks so yummy, I'm hungry already!

I love the relationship that you have with your daughters, you even share a blog together! :-)

Thank you so much for dropping by my blog! I'm definitely following your fabulous blog! :-)

softvoiceofafreespirit.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Oooh, that looks so delicious!!! Red wine and cheesy fondue must be a perfect match. Looks like you had a great time! Thanks for your always nice comments on my photos :) I agree with Jess...we also had some amazing meals in Rome. I just love Italian food!! I'm trying to make it more at home also! Have a beautiful Thursday!

Love, Kristin

Vær våken said...

Ooops, I was logged in with my other user. You see I'm making a Norwegian blog also...

Melissa/Piney Rose said...

Mmmmmm this makes me hungry for fondue - and it's not even 10 a.m. yet! LOL

Attic Clutter said...

Oh I just love it Sheri (:) so fun ~!!
hugs,Patty

Ric Rac and Polka Dots said...

My gosh, you ladies put me to shame. I am thinking that I am cooking something fancy and then I see that . . . wow! I need to step it up. But so far the family isn't complaining so I won't worry about it! Looks wonderful, you must be amazing cooks!

romance-of-roses said...

Well this is really looks yummy, now I'm hungry. BTW wonderful job on the red rose, bet your mom was pleased. Hugs...Lu

Bonnie said...

Hi Sheri, what's not to love about cheese! I was first introduced to fondue by a wonderful aunt who would do something special for dinner each Sunday. My aunt charged my cousin and I with buying the evening's wine to go with dinner. What did we know about wine - nothing - we were 19 I think or maybe 20. But she said that's how we would learn. Life is an adventure she always said!

Thanks for visiting with me. I do adore Anita and I am in love with your blog. I am going to follow. I will have some fun catching up with all your posts!

xo, Bonnie

Beatnheart said...

Hi There! Thanks so much for your visit and sweet comments. wow...what a way to start my day. Since we are both in Southern Calif. i would love to drop in one Friday and share the above with you...ha ha...I bring a cork!

Anonymous said...

Oh my, this looks absolutely delicious. I am totally inspired to try it at home too. By the way, I had wanted to watch Midnight in Paris so thanks for reminding me. I love movies. When I saw the picture of the three of you in your latest post, it reminded me of Because I Said So with Diane Keaton, although she has three daughters in that movie, but it clicked because you seem to have such a good relationship with yours.

Hugs.

Anonymous said...

Stopped by again to thank you for the follow at the diary. The comments are now open again, by the way.

Also, I was telling my husband about this delicious idea and it looks like we might be joining in the fun this weekend with our own fundue party.

Okay, every time I click on this I get hungry instantly. Sigh...gotta go. There must be something somewhere close to this deliciousness in my pantry. ;)

Cherry Blossoms said...

This looks amazing! I am such a cheese fanatic so I love anything with cheese!
Also, thanks so much for the kind words on my blog. I love finding new blogs as well. I think it's so neat that you are blogging with your daughters.
- Heidi