You will never guess what my Mom found hidden in the depths of her basement the other day…
Her old-school, 1970’s electric fondue pot!! Look at that color – it couldn’t be anymore 70s if it tried!!
She was telling me that her friends used to throw fondue parties ALL the time in the late 70s and early 80s. Someone would bring a pot full of chocolate for dipping graham crackers or pineapple for dessert, another one full of oil to quickly sear shrimp or steak, while at least one person could always be counted on to bring a big pot of melty CHEESE.
30 years later it’s still fulfilling its purpose, because tonight Ben and I used it to threw ourselves a private cheese fondue party for 2! HA!
There are a TON of cheese fondue recipes out there, most using Gruyere for a really smooth fondue, but I went the ooey-gooey route and made a Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Fondue.
I started by rubbing the inside of the fondue pot with a clove of garlic. It subtly seasoned the fondue without adding a super strong garlic flavor.
Then I turned my attention to the cheese. Wisconsin cheddar!
I grated up 4oz each of mild & sharp cheddar cheese, then tossed with a Tablespoon of flour so it wouldn’t clump together while melting.
The base for the cheese was 1/2 cup lager beer. Budweiser or any full-flavored one would work.
It’s been decades since this thing was last used, but the electric base still worked like a charm and took the beer from cold to boiling in seconds!
Next I added the cheese in batches, stirring really well in between each batch.
Honestly it didn’t take long at all to get everything smooth. Maybe 5 minutes?
The final step was to consult the seasoning squad. Salt, pepper, hot sauce & worcestershire sauce. Just a pinch/dash of all!
When all was said and done, I set the heat to low, transferred the pot over to the table and got out the dunkers.
Let’s talk about these dunkers!
Clockwise from the top we’ve got: Trader Joe’s Spicy Italian Wine & Cheese Chicken Sausage, French baguette, apples, pretzel bread & steamed broccoli and cauliflower in the center.
Oh, right, there were also tator tots for Ben. Ok I had a million too… ;)
I’ve got to tell you – this cheese! It clung to the broccoli, cascaded over the baguette,
and made the pretzel bread sing!
I’ll admit, Ben was skeptical…
“I just don’t think I get it… Why don’t you just put cheese on top of this stuff and melt it in the microwave?”
“Because it wouldn’t be as FUN!” I informed him. :)
Despite his skepticism, he had no problem demolishing his fair share. ;)
Hey! (ps I got my hair cut last week and my gal chopped it SO short! Still getting used to it!)
Our favorites were definitely the tots,
Followed closely by the pretzel bread (TJ’s – $.99!), apples,
and broccoli!
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Cheese Fondue
Description
Cheese Fondue for Two is fun and retro — enjoy this melty cheesy goodness with your favorite veggies, bread, and meats as dippers!
Ingredients
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 cup lager beer
- 4oz Mild Cheddar Cheese
- 4oz Sharp White-Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Tablespoon flour
- salt & pepper
- Hot sauce, to taste
- Worcestershire sauce, to taste
Directions
- Cut the garlic clove in half and rub the inside of a fondue pot or heavy-bottomed sauce pan with it. Discard.
- Over high heat, add the beer to the pot and bring it to a boil. Turn the heat down to medium low, toss the cheese with the flour in a separate bowl, then gradually add it into the pot in batches, stirring well and fully melting each batch before adding the next.
- When all the cheese has melted, add in dashes of salt, pepper, hot sauce and worcestershire sauce, to taste. Serve warm with bread, pretzel bread, steamed asparagus, broccoli or cauliflower, apples or sausage.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Right now it’s clear to both Ben and me that cheese fondue parties are NOT meant for 2. We are in a cheese-induced stupor and I think I just heard Ben yell “I fonDON’T want to do that again!” from the couch. omg I can’t stop laughing. The cheese has gone to my brain!
Salads are already packed for tomorrow. ;)
~~~~~
Cheese or Chocolate Fondue?
Because of my current situation, I’m going to go with chocolate!
Also, unmarried readers: if you have the option to get a chocolate fountain at your wedding – DO IT. People will not remember your flowers 5 years later, but they will remember the cascading chocolate!
Stephanie 01.17.2011
I think I’d rather just have two fondue pots so I could have cheese AND chocolate! :)
Susan 01.17.2011
Where did you get that cute serving tray??
Iowa Girl Eats 01.23.2011
It was a wedding gift, but I think I registered for it at Bed Bath & Beyond. The land of millions of cute serving trays!
Clare @ Fitting It All In 01.17.2011
I’m not a huge cheese person, so TOTALLY chocolate! With bananas and marshmellows and strawberries and mmm omg, imagine TJ’s pb pretzels in chocolate fondue.
dana828 01.17.2011
This post is so timely We just shared a chocolate fondue dessert at Granite City last night, and I was lamenting how bummed I was that I had decided to let my brother keep my parent’s old 1970’s green fondue pot that we used as kids. We never did cheese or chocolate back then–always just oil to cook little pieces of steak. It was my birthday meal several years running! I’ve decided I need to buy myself a new fondue pot and have a party!
We had a chocolate fountain at our wedding! It was the one thing I insisted on, and at the end of the night I realized I hadn’t gotten to have *any* of it! I was SO sad!!
Liz 01.17.2011
Ah! Fondue is so good! My family used to have fondue nights to catch up during crazy weeks of after school activities because it’s a slow and fun dinner. My favorite thing to have with cheese fondue is a granny smith apple, it’s sour and crunchy and perfect! I was skeptical of it at first, but it ended up being THE BEST!
Jen 01.17.2011
Your hair is ADORABLE!
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn 01.17.2011
I love fondue! We had cheese and chocolate fondue at my high school prom, it was messy to say the least;) Makes me think of Kitty on That 70’s Show! Haha
Lauren 01.17.2011
Fondue is sooo much fun! We go to the Melting Pot every year for our anniversary! :) At first, my husband was skeptical too, but he loves it now. The only thing that does get a bit tedious is cooking the meat and potatoes but the cheese and chocolate are the best!
Faith @ lovelyascharged 01.17.2011
Oh dear goodness me, melty cheese + bread + veggies…I need a fondue pot!
Sarah w 01.17.2011
Thanks for this post! I think I’m gonna try to find a fondue pot at home goods or TJ maxx and then borrow my mother in laws pot and recreate a melting pot type of meal. With cheese fondue and oil fondue for valentines day! Yay!
Kendra~! 01.17.2011
Your hair = ADORE!!!
MOM 01.17.2011
Ahhh!! Brings back old memories:)
Amanda (Eating Up) 01.17.2011
Haha I loved Ben’s quote. Still, that dinner sounds like so much fun!
sassy molassy 01.17.2011
Oh man, that stuff looks delish! When my friend and I went to Europe, we went to this Chinese Fondue restaurant in Switzerland and the meal was seriously the BEST EVER. Oh man. Gooey cheesey goodness.
Krissy Murphy 01.17.2011
Your hair looks ADORABLE! I LOVE it! Like, so much it makes me want to go and cut my hair…
Where did you get the pretzel bread…?? It is my fave thing ever…
That being said, I always love CHOCOLATE fondue the best =D But I bet you COULD dunk pretzel bread in chocolate fondue…ya know, sweet and salty thang?? =D
Lisa@ Dishes of Mrs. Fish 01.17.2011
What a fun dinner idea! LOVE IT!
Francesca 01.17.2011
Love this…and love the new ‘do. Perfect day for all of it!
Amy 01.17.2011
Awesome shout-out for the ALA Stair Climb. It is a great event for a well-deserving cause. I did it for the first time last year and am starting to train for this year’s now.
To anyone considering it: Try it at least once. It is an entirely different kind of workout, but it is a great accomplishment when you can stand back (perhaps while holding a tasty beverage on the patio at El Bait later this summer) and say ‘I climbed to the top of those buildings!’
Happy climbing!
Blog is the New Black 01.17.2011
Lovin’ this idea right now. I’m more of a sweet than savory person, so I’d love a chocolate dip right now!
Emily 01.17.2011
I have a similar-aged fondue pot in the same luscious shade of avocado green. I purchased mine at Goodwill. :) Our family does fondue in lieu of Christmas dinner…so fun!