Fondue Recipe

Ok, it's been requested too much for separate emails to suffice anymore. Here is the recipe for non-alcoholic cheese fondue for 4 people. We make this in a saucepan on the stove and then transfer it to a warm fondue pot when it's ready.

Heat to simmering:
1/3 c apple juice
2/3 c chicken bouillon/water
2 t lemon juice
2 1/2 t onion powder
2 1/2 t garlic powder

Add slowly and stir until melted:
1/2 - 3/4 lb swiss cheese
1/4 - 1/2 lb cheddar cheese

Mix separately and add to cheese mixture:
1/4 c apple juice
1 T corn starch
2 t flour
less than 1/4 t white pepper (if you got it)
2/3 t mustard powder

Ok, here's the deal with the cheese. Start with the lesser amount of each. Every time we make this it acts a little different. Sometimes it looks like we have a big mass of gooey cheese in the bottom of the pan surrounded by the juice that it just won't combine with. Don't give up. Try turning the heat up a little and things should smooth out. The lemon juice also helps to keep the cheese from clumping, so you could add more of that too if you need. If things are smooth but still too juicy, add more cheese until it looks right. Our first batch was too juicy and it still tasted way good. After a couple of times, you start to get the hang of it and it comes easier. Another important bit about cheese: the harder the better. Soft cheese melts into strings. Think 3 foot mozzarella bridge from your pizza to your face. Strings are not what you want in your fondue. Hard cheese melts smoothly and provides for a much more pleasant fondue experience. Go for sharp or medium cheddar over mild. Other cheeses work well too; gruyere cheese is super yummy. Try other cheeses too, just be sure to squeeze your cheese (triple word score for saying 'squeeze your cheese') to make sure it's hard.

Dip whatever you want in your cheese. Apples, red potatoes, and broccoli are personal favorites. Of course, no fondue at our house would be complete without baguettes (thanks, Rachael).

If you haven't saved room for chocolate fondue, shame on you. Pace yourself next time. This recipe is for more like 6-8 people, so cut it in half if you have less or stuffed yourself with the cheese.

1 1/2 c cream - heat on stove
16 oz semi-sweet choc chips, dark chocolate, or whatever - add to cream and stir til blended
1 t vanilla
2-4 T peanut butter
This recipe is way simpler than the cheese and way easier to pull off. Redeem yourself with this if you had a hard time with the cheese.

Again, dip whatever you want in it: bananas, strawberries, pound cake, marshmallows, cheesecake, fingers...you get the idea.

Dangit, now I'm hungry.

(Post courtesy of the Rocket Scientist)