Fiery Fondue Food

THE FIERY GOAT

Steps:

• In a 10-inch ovenproof skillet, combine the olive oil, garlic and onion. Cook over high heat, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the paprika, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the onion starts to soften, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Pour in the wine and let it reduce for about 1 minute while stirring. Add the tomatoes, roasted peppers and a dash of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the liquid has cooked off, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the broiler.
• Top the tomato and pepper mixture with the goat cheese, lightly pressing the slices into the sauce. Broil until the cheese is deep golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle over the parsley and lemon zest. Serve hot with crostini and crackers to dip.

BEER AND ITALIAN SAUSAGE FONDUE

Steps:

• For the crostini: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange the baguette slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Mix the oil, garlic, oregano and fennel seeds in a small bowl. Brush the oil mixture over the top of the baguette slices. Sprinkle lightly with pepper. Bake the baguette slices until lightly toasted but still slightly soft, 12 to 15 minutes.
• For the fondue: Mix together the beer and mustard in a small bowl. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add the sausage, onions, fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Break the sausage into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon and cook until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Stir in the flour. Add the beer mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Gradually add the Cheddar, fontina and Parmesan, stirring constantly, until the cheese is melted and smooth. Keep warm over low heat. If the fondue becomes too thick, gradually stir in extra beer, 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Serve the fondue with the crostini.

FIERY FONDUE

Steps:

• In a large bowl toss together cheeses and flour.
• To a 4-quart saucepan, add the beer, smashed garlic and chipotle chiles and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes.
• Whisk in cheese by the handful, making sure each addition melts before you add the next. Keep at a bare simmer. Transfer to a fondue pot and set over a low flame.
• *Cook's Note: If sauce is too thick, add more beer. If it's too thin, add more cheese.
• Serve with fondue accompaniments of fruits, vegetables and bread.

CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Pour the wine and lemon juice into a heavy-based pan over a medium-low heat and warm until steaming. Add all of the cheese, a handful at a time, whisking between each addition until all the cheese has been added. Continue to stir for 4-5 mins until everything is fully melted, smooth and creamy. Mix the cornflour with the kirsch in a small bowl, then stir this into the cheese mixture. Continue to cook over a low heat for a minute more.
• Rub the garlic on the inside of the fondue pot, if you like, then carefully pour the cheese mixture into the pot and immediately place it over the flame. (If you don't have a fondue set, add the garlic along with the wine in step one, then remove and discard it before you add the kirsch mixture.) Serve immediately with crusty bread, boiled new potatoes, vegetable crudités or cornichons for dunking, if you like. You can place the fondue back over a low heat if you need to reheat it after serving.