Cheese Fondue
for Fall
as featured on SouthwestBlend.com
Food & Wine Department

As the weather gets nippy and the leaves turn, a great way to enjoy entertaining your family and friends in Fall is by having a fondue.

If you don't have a fondue pot, you can always use a small Crock Pot or Slow Cooker set on low.

The secret to a smooth cheese fondue is to coat the cheese with a starch and keep the heat low--this will keep the fat of the cheese from separating with the protein. Use a well aged cheese for zest! Keep the cheese sauce warm as when it cools, it can get stringy. Don't stir the sauce too much as this also encourages toughness and stringiness.

Adding wine to the sauce also adds to the taste and stability due to the water content and the tartaric acid. Lemon juice can have the same effect.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound Gruyere cheese, shredded
1/2 pound Swiss-style cheese, shredded
TIP: Swill style cheeses usually have a tough outer rind and holes or 'eyes', with a mild to sweet, nutty taste. Varieties include Emmentaler, Appenzell, Gruyere, and Sbrinz.

1 garlic clove, peeled
2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Cherry Brandy
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
Pinch nutmeg

Dippers - Cubed cooked meats, ham is especially good with a cheese sauce; fresh veggies like carrots, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, slices of green bell peppers, cubed bread, French Bread is the best; and chunks of apple. To discourage "double-dipping" make sure your dipping foods are bite size.

Preparation:
Shred cheese that has been refrigerated for at least 2-3 hours. Put the shredded cheese in a plastic freezer bag, add the cornstarch, seal and shake the bag gently until the cheese in uniformly coated.

Halve your peeled garlic and rub the inside of a 4 quart saucepan to flavor. Add the wine and lemon juice over a medium heat and bring to a low simmer. Add the cheese to the liquid, a little at a time, stirring gently and constantly. Cook only until cheese is melted and do not boil. When the cheese is smooth add the Cherry Brandy and your seasoning.

Carefully transfer your cheese sauce over to your fondue pot, making sure to keep it warm.

Set your table with the pot in the center, your fondue forks or wooden skewers and your dipping foods around the pot. A Lazy Susan works well if your are seating your guests--or you can make sure the dipping foods are evenly distributed so guests do not have to reach over the pot to sample. Dip foods in the sauce and enjoy.