As a mother, I often get tired of deciding what to eat for another meal. It is so easy to get bogged down in the hot dogs-tacos-spaghetti-sandwich rut. Fondue is my superhero dish–one that always pulls me out of that rut. There’s something about fondue that says “special meal” and, luckily, without a lot of prep time. Whether it’s a regular night with family or a special night with family, friends, or both, fondue can make an evening delightful.
Whether it’s a simple family meal, or a group of friends getting together at your house, you can’t beat a meal with cheese fondue and lots of choices of breads, vegetables and meats for dipping. The novelty of a fondue pot warming on a table and an assorted spread of dipping choices just begs for more creativity as people spear their skewers with their own selections.
A simpler recipe than one that calls for Emmenthaler is one which substitutes Swiss cheese. Along with the Gruyere, the Swiss makes for a smooth, creamy texture. Corn starch is used to thicken it up just right, and garlic, white wine, cherry brandy and nutmeg give it the zip you’re looking for. (Note: I substitute juice for the wine, and it works just fine).
Though fondue may have seen its heyday in the 70’s, it is trendy once again. Perhaps you got a fondue pot as a wedding gift and have not quite understood how to use it yet, or perhaps you don’t even own a fondue pot. Whatever the case, basic fondue cheese-making skills are not difficult to master and you don’t even need a fondue pot to begin basic fondue making. Just use a heavy saucepan.
My first experiences with fondue were as a small child in the 70′s. I come from a large family (nine kids) with a mother who was an amazing cook. Our fondue was just another notch in my mother’s endless and yummy repertoire. And the fondue set was not fancy, but it’s contents were mouth-watering. I remember her fondue well; two pots full of heaven. Most often, we dipped into the twin pots of comfort, cheese and chocolate. The dipping selections were also premium–breads, meatballs, vegetables, and sausage for the cheese and bananas, strawberries, nuts and candies for the chocolate.
