fondue

There's nothing worse than a bad recipe! Over the weekend, I had a horrible time making pepper jack cheese fondue. I followed the recipe exactly, but the fondue was a soggy mess. It consisted of a bottle of beer, which was brought to a boil. It simmered with garlic and cayenne pepper for several minutes. Then, I added in a pound of grated pepper jack cheese by the handful.

However, while the cheese melted, it didn't combine with the beer. The soup-like fondue was gloppy and made me want to cry! It was a complete failure. I tried to salvage it by pouring out the excess liquid, adding in more cheese, and baking it in the oven, but in the end, that didn't really work either. Any idea what went wrong? Have you ever made fondue that didn't emulsify?

If you still haven't figured out how you're going to get your Valentine's Day chocolate fix, grab some chocolate bars and a pint of heavy cream and make chocolate fondue. Seriously, it's quite possibly the easiest dessert ever! All you have to do is melt the two together in a double boiler. Voilà! Serve with an assortment of delicious dippers like sliced bananas, pound cake, or brownies. My favorite chocolate fondue dipper is toasted bread sprinkled with sea salt. It's like a sophisticated take on pain au chocolat! Get the uncomplicated method now.

If you didn't find an easy cheesy appetizer that looked delicious, I have one more suggestion: pecorino fondata. This baked Italian cheese dish is incredibly uncomplicated to prepare; you simply toss cubed cheese with chopped hazelnuts and fresh thyme, then bake till it's melted and gooey. The most difficult thing about this fondue-like appetizer is finding the right kind of cheese. I recommend heading to a local cheese shop or more high-end grocer like Whole Foods. Ask the cheesemonger for a young soft pecorino with a good melting quality. Serve with crisp crostini or crunchy crackers and a glass of sparkling wine. Ready for the recipe?

Instead of joining the crowds of party-goers this New Year's Eve, I'm staying in, and I invite you to do the same! Call up some friends and host a festive and special dinner party that lasts until the countdown. Start with a luxurious duo of appetizers: oysters on the half shell with two types of sauces (cucumber mignonette and classic cocktail sauce) and a bubbling pot of cheese fondue with lots of delicious items for dipping (bread cubes, potatoes, broccoli, etc.). For the main course, offer a thick and slow-cooked pork ragu with pasta. It's comforting and hearty. Crusty bread and a big green salad round out the menu. Check out the recommended recipes after the break.

My girlfriend has just moved into a huge house with friends and is throwing a party this Saturday afternoon to celebrate. She's asked me to help out with the food spread, which she wants to be gourmet yet casual. In addition to a large spread of charcuterie, preserves, pâte, and pickled vegetables, we'll be offering two versions of fondue.

On one side of the table, we'll serve the Swiss crowd-pleaser, made with a mixture of emmentaler, gruyere, and raclette cheeses for a perfect pairing with crusty baguette. On the other side, guests can indulge in a classic chocolate version, served with pound cake and strawberries, made all the more rich with vanilla and heavy cream. Looking for a surefire way to appeal to cravings both sugary and salty? Then keep reading.

If you're celebrating Valentine's Day this year with a romantic night in, consider serving one of the world's sexiest foods: an interactive, dip-and-devour chocolate fondue. Although the Alpine tradition began with melted cheese, the chocolate dessert variation is an easy, affordable, beginner way to start making the fancy stuff at home. Turn pro with chocolate fondue when you keep reading.

Do you have a lot of people plopping down on your couch to watch the game, and even more importantly, the commercials? If you want to try something a little less traditional in the game-day-food realm, cheddar cheese and stout fondue is for you. It's the perfect dish: easy to prepare in advance and bound to satisfy your guests. Who doesn't love dipping veggies, bread, and apples in a warm and creamy cheddar cheese dip?!

If you don't have a fondue pot, you can use a small sauce pan, but you'll have to periodically reheat the fondue. As it cools, the texture turns a little grainy. Feel free to substitute another melting cheese or beer that you have on hand. To have your guests dip into this super bowl of cheese, keep reading for the recipe.