Fondue With Tequila Food

TEQUILA-SPIKED QUESO FUNDIDO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook, crumbling it as you go, until browned. Remove from the skillet and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Pour off any excess fat from the skillet.
• Add the onion and bell peppers to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat until the veggies begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in 1/4 cup of the tequila. Turn the heat back on and cook until the vegetables are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Meanwhile, stir the tomatoes and remaining 1 tablespoon tequila together in a small bowl and set aside to marinate for a few minutes.
• To build, cover the bottom of a medium ovenproof skillet with a third of the Monterey Jack and Cheddar. Add half of the chorizo, then another third of the cheese. Next, add as much of the veggie mixture as you'd like (you may have a little left over). Add almost all of the remaining cheese, the rest of the chorizo and then whatever cheese you have left. Sprinkle the top very lightly with chili powder.
• Bake, starting to watch it 4 to 5 minutes in, until the cheese is totally melted, hot and slightly bubbling...but before the cheese starts to firm up/harden. (In other words, you still want the cheese to be extra gooey.)
• Drain the tomatoes.
• Remove the skillet from the oven and top with the spiked tomatoes and cilantro. Serve immediately with tortilla chips. It's best when piping hot! Wrap a cloth around the skillet handle so guests won't burn themselves.

ITALIAN CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Toss the Fontina and Gruyere cheese with the cornstarch in a medium bowl to coat. Saute the pancetta in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat until crisp and golden, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a plate. Pour off any excess oil. Pour the wine into the same saucepan and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat to medium. Whisk 1 handful of the cheese mixture into the wine until it is almost melted. Repeat with the remaining cheese mixture in about 4 more batches. Continue whisking until the cheese is completely melted and the fondue bubbles, about 1 minute. Stir in all but 2 tablespoons of the pancetta. Season the fondue with pepper, to taste.
• Transfer the cheese mixture to a fondue pot. Sprinkle with the remaining pancetta and chives. Set the pot over a candle or a canned heat burner. Serve with focaccia and vegetables.

CHEESE FONDUE WITH BEER AND BOURBON

Steps:

• Rub inside of a large saucepan with cut sides of garlic. Finely grate garlic into saucepan; add beer and 1 1/2 cups wine and bring to a boil over medium heat. Whisk cornstarch and remaining 1/2 cup wine in a small bowl until no lumps remain, then whisk into liquid in saucepan. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, then reduce heat so mixture is at a very low simmer and very gradually add Gruyère and Babybel, whisking until smooth (fully incorporate each batch of cheese before adding more).
• Whisk bourbon and baking soda in a small bowl to combine, then whisk into fondue, followed by lemon juice; season with salt. Transfer to a fondue pot and serve with bread, ham, salumi, pickles, and crudités for dipping.

TEQUILA & MEXICAN CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Bring apple juice and tequila to boil in large saucepan. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients.
• Add cheese mixture gradually to cheese mixture, cooking and stirring after each addition until cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended.
• Bring just to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; pour into fondue pot to serve.

TACO CHEESE FONDUE WITH CILANTRO & TEQUILA

Steps:

• Bring apple juice and tequila to boil in large saucepan. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients.
• Add cheese mixture gradually to juice mixture, cooking and stirring after each addition until cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended.
• Bring just to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; pour into fondue pot to serve.

SPICY CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Rub the inside of a fondue pot or earthenware casserole with the halved garlic; discard or leave pieces in the pot for stronger garlic flavor.
• Pour the wine into the top of a double boiler over simmering water; heat wine to a simmer.
• Add the cheese 1/4 cup at a time to the double boiler, stirring after each addition until all the cheese is melted, stir in cornstarch.
• Add tequila, cilantro and chili powder, stirring until blended.
• Carefully pour cheese mixture into fondue pot.
• Place pot on the table, use bread, tortillas and vegetables for dipping into cheese.

MEXICAN FONDUE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the corn, tomatoes, green chiles and chili powder. Stir in cheese. Pour mixture into a 1-1/2-qt. slow cooker coated with cooking spray. , Cover and cook on high until cheese is melted, 1-1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Serve warm with bread cubes.

TEX-MEX CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Place both cheese in a large bowl and add flour, toss.
• Rub inside of fondue pot with garlic. Discard garlic.
• Add wine and tequila to pot and warm over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear.
• Add one handful of cheese mixture to wine mixture and stir constantly until cheese melts. ADJUST HEAT SO MIXTURE DOES NOT BOIL.
• Repeat with remaining cheese; stirring until thick. Stir in cilantro and chilies and season with salt and pepper.
• Set pot over candles or Sterno on serving table. Serve with skewers of bread cubes, sausages and/or vegetables.
• Serve with tortilla chips if desired.

MEXICAN FONDUE WITH CHORIZO AND CHILES

Steps:

• Place poblanos and bell pepper directly over the flame of a gas-stove burner on high heat. Roast peppers, turning with tongs, until blackened all over. (Alternatively, broil peppers on a baking sheet, turning, until skin has charred.) Transfer to a large bowl, and cover immediately with plastic wrap. Set aside to steam 15 minutes. Peel peppers; discard skins, stems, seeds, and ribs. Cut into 1/4-inch strips. Set aside.
• Heat a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chorizo, and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and add cheese and pepper strips. Cook, stirring, until melted. Serve immediately by spooning onto tortillas. Roll up the tortillas to eat.