Sunday, March 25, 2012

Do you Fondue? I do! {A Duo of Cheese Fondue Recipes}

I'm not certain about many things in life but I am certain I do not fondue enough!  It's such a great way to gather and enjoy your family and friends.  I remember Ruthie would break out her 1970's olive green enamel fondue pot and it was a party at the dinner table.... we just did oil and little pieces of beef but it was SO much fun.


Shortly after we were married, David bought me my first fondue pot and a cookbook to go with it, Fondue by Rick Rodgers, and I remember having our friends, Chris & Melissa, over and we would laugh as we read Rick's funny little descriptions and sliced and diced everything together and of course, drank plenty of wine.


Over the years I am sad to say that my pot has gotten very dusty and my fondue has been limited to The Melting Pot but I vow to change that.... and now that we've found our new fondue friends in Ormond, the Miltons, I hope to stay true to my word.


The Menu
Classic Swiss Three Cheese Fondue
Mexican Fondue with Chorizo
Lot's of bread, apples & veggies for dipping
Chicken, Shrimp & Porterhouse Steak with Mojo cooking style broth
Chocolate Fondue with cream puffs, pound cake, bananas and strawberries


Mike made the Mojo which was simply outrageous {and I will have to shake him down for the recipe another time} I made the cheese from Rick's repetoir and happily share them here because they were HITS.  Kids & Adults, alike.

Classic Swiss Three Cheese Fondue 
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:
1 cup white wine
1 TBSP Lemon Juice
8 ounces Gruyere Cheese
8 ounces Emmentaler Cheese
8 ounces Appenzeller Cheese
4 tsp cornstarch
2 TBSP white vermouth

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:
All three cheeses need the rind removed and then to be shredded.  Once shredded toss in cornstarch {I put in a big Ziploc}.  Once that is prepared, bring the wine & lemon juice to a boil {my fondue pot allowed me to do that in it on the stove because it's Analon but if yours isn't stove-top safe do your prep in a saucepan}.  Once the wine is boiling add the cheese, I added all at once and stirred until smooth and melted, then stirred in the vermouth to thin it a little.  You could use chicken stock instead of the wine and/or vermouth if you prefer BUT please know there was no taste of alcohol once this cheese was prepared.  The cooking process from start to finish was less than 15 minutes and I did simultaneously with melting the cheese into my Mexican fondue.

Mexican Fondue with Chorizo
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:
6-8 ounces Chorizo {I used 3 links}
1/2 medium red onion diced finely
1 jalapeno pepper diced finely {seeds removed}
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp granulated garlic powder
2 cups diced tomatoes {I used Pomi}
1 cup beer {I used Landshark}
4 cups shredded sharp cheddar
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack
2 TBSP fresh chopped cilantro


HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:
Remove the chorizo from the casing and brown in a saute pan for 5 minutes, add the onion and jalapeno, saute another 4-5 minutes until onion soft.  Add the spices, tomatoes and beer and simmer for 10 minutes on low.  This is your base.  I made this in advance and set aside until ready to fondue.  Both cheeses {once shredded} need to be tossed in cornstarch {I used pre-shredded on this one and put in a big Ziploc to toss}.  When you are just about ready to begin bring the chorizo base to a simmer, add the cheese, I added all at once and stirred until smooth and melted, lastly stir in cilantro and serve immediately.


These were both easy & SO GOOD!  We prepared and served all 3 courses simultaneously and grazed all night....








Pin It! Print Friendly and PDF

30 comments:

  1. Mmm, fondue! I love cheese fondue, but my family traditionally makes meat fondue. To die for!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll have to get you that Mojo recipe... It was incredible!

      Delete
  2. This looks delicious! I've never tried fondue (and I love dipping stuff!) - I'm definitely going to have to try this!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm not sure if I've EVER had savory fondue... how sinful is that?!?! This sounds like a delightful meal!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love fondue! This sounds like such a fun and delicious meal :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it was great and it wasn't my idea to throw it all out at once.... I would've been more the "course" type girl but it was a GREAT way to do it.... because the cooking was over and we just noshed all night!

      Delete
  5. Oh the Mexican fondue with chorizo sounds absolutely lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. and the leftovers [what little there were] were seriously yummy with eggs!

      Delete
  6. When my best friend and I were in college we'd sometimes drive to Keene, NH to a place that had the best Mississippi Mud Pie anywhere...and yes, that's why we went. :) But we figured we should eat something first so we'd always order their fondue. Unfortunately, I haven't fondue'd since. :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. well boo on that you need to make some Mississippi Mud Pie & Fondue.... I'll be watching for the Pie post :)

      Delete
  7. Fondue, I do. I love it! Your cheese fondue recipes sound yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have never tasted fondue, and your recipe makes me crave for them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Entertaining with fondue is a lot of fun and these recipes do look tasty! I have to admit though, I would go with the mexican fondue first. I am partial to southwestern flavors-yum! Great post.
    PS-as an FYI, I linked you up in my post today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the link-up Tina! Don't poo-poo the swiss, make BOTH!

      Delete
  10. Love fondue! We make a cheese fondue that is similar. We also make a chicken broth fondue and of course, a chocolate fondue. I love the chorizo fondue idea. We are having a fondue party at the end of the month and I will have to add the chorizo to our menu! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, please let me know about your fondue party! always looking for new ideas!

      Delete
  11. I do fondue--and cheese should be considered a good group. I am loving the looks of the one with chorizo.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love cheese and fondue and don't know why I don't make it???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it's really not that hard either.... I'm not sure why I only do it once in a while too!

      Delete
  13. oh, thank goodness my kids did not know it was national fondue day! they would have it every night for dinner if possible Yours looks great

    ReplyDelete
  14. i still have spots where no hair grows on my hands from the chlidhood fondue dinners. i particularly remember the colored buttons on the ends of the diminutive 2-prong forks matching the burnt orange, pale yellow and almond green decorative elements of our kitchen on 15 Llanfair Lane. By the way, the old homestead is for sale again...XXXoo Uncle Chuckalee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks for chiming in Brother Chucklee, it was a fun thing when we fondued ;)

      Delete
  15. Chorizo is amazing. I grew up eating it but only for breakfast. Fondue??? You're so creative! I must try it, thanks for sharing :) Please come to my Fiesta – Cinco de Mayo linky party. I’d love to have you enter all your delicious Mexican/Tex Mex recipes! Hope to see you there! http://isavortheweekend.blogspot.com/2012/04/fiesta-cinco-de-mayo-linky-party.html

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh thank you, thank you, thank you so much for posting your Chorizo Fondue and Mexican Mojito at my Fiesta - Cinco de Mayo linky party. Have some delicious food and a nice cool drink to wash it down - yum!! Thanks again and thanks also for becoming a follower, so nice of you :) -Bev

    ReplyDelete