Fondue With Apple Brandy Food

FALL FONDUE WITH GOUDA

Steps:

• Combine cheeses, milk and cornstarch in a bowl and refrigerate, for 2 hours.
• When ready to make the fondue: Set up a fondue pot, double boiler, or place a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Melt the butter in the pan or bowl. Then add the cheese mixture and heat gently, stirring until the cheese has melted and the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of spoon. Take care to regulate the heat to make sure the water doesn't boil, as overheating the cheese will cause it to curdle. Add the apple brandy just before serving. Keep warm and serve with the selection of dippers.

FONDUE WITH APPLE BRANDY

Steps:

• Place the wine in a fondue pot and bring to a bubble over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer, add the lemon juice, then add the cheeses in handfuls, stirring in a figure-eight motion with a wooden spoon. When the cheese is fully melted, stir the cornstarch into the brandy until smooth, then add to the cheese. Season with nutmeg and cayenne pepper to taste and serve in the fondue pot over a warming station.

FONDUE DIPPERS: BACON WRAPPED CHICKEN WITH SPINACH, BLANCHED VEGETABLES AND APPLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Defrost spinach in microwave.
• Drizzle a little oil on large plate and have a rack sitting on baking a sheet or slotted broiler pan nearby. Halve the bacon across and reserve on a meat-safe prep board. Halve the chicken tenders and slide into the dish with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and paprika. Wring out the spinach in a clean dish towel and put the spinach in a small dish. Top each piece of chicken with a little spinach and wrap with bacon. Arrange, seem side down, on the baking pan. Bake until golden and firm, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a few inches of salted water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Have a large bowl of ice water, for shocking the vegetables, ready as well. Add the radishes to the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute, then remove them and shock in ice water. Repeat with the pepper removing them with tongs or small strainer or spider. Add the asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 to 3 minutes, then shock and reserve.
• If using fresh onions, add last and cook for 3 minutes to loosen skins. Shock them and use a towel to wipe away the skins.
• Arrange the meat, vegetables and pretzels around a fondue pot and serve with cubed bread in a basket.
• Put the wine in a fondue pot and bring to a bubble over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the lemon juice, then add the cheeses in handfuls, stirring in a figure-8 motion with wooden spoon. When the cheese is fully melted, stir the cornstarch into the brandy, in a small bowl until smooth, then add to cheese. Season with nutmeg and cayenne and serve over a warming station for your fondue pot.

GRUYèRE AND CIDER FONDUE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Heat heavy large skillet over high heat. Add kielbasa slices and sauté until browned on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet and place in oven to keep warm.
• Toss cheese and cornstarch in large bowl to coat. Bring hard cider and vinegar just to simmer in medium saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium low (mixture should be barely simmering). Add a handful of cheese to simmering cider mixture. Stir until cheese is melted. Add remaining cheese 1 handful at a time, stirring until melted between additions. Increase heat to medium and cook until fondue begins to bubble, stirring constantly. Stir in Calvados. Season to taste with pepper.
• Transfer fondue to pot. Set fondue pot atop stand; light candle or canned heat burner. Arrange sausage slices, apple slices, and bread cubes in bowls alongside fondue pot.
• Alcoholic apple cider; available in the liquor department of most supermarkets and at liquor stores.