Did you miss me, my dear readers?
Wonder what hole I slipped into?
It’s called LOVE AND SUGAR, baby-that’s what.
I’ve been fiddling and fussing on the final chapters of a book with stuff like this:
and this,
and this.
Then my dog got sick (damn chocolate bits on the floor), the Xmas decorations were screaming to be put away, and I lost three nights of sleep after binge watching Mister Robot (is he hacking me right now???) Before I almost chewed off all my nails in fright, there was the wee event of this annual thing called my birthday which comes along in the nick of time, a big star that says DO SOMETHING on the first month of a new year, a grey month but not here. Helps to have friends and fondue and a long table that just keeps stretching to add another, thanks to my friend Eva who never runs out of chairs. Yes, I know, you don’t need a recipe for cheese fondue. Yes, I know you can dump a few cubes or open a little envelope of instant fondue and I’m all for ease, but wait, wait, wait-this recipe I used has wine and kirsch. Since when do you turn that down???????????? And no, I don’t have pictures of the fondue because I was too busy eating it and laughing and marvelling at the clever mama who delivered me in the dead of winter. She gave me a reason to love the season.
Cheese Fondue
What you need
- 1 garlic clove, cut in half
- 1½ cups dry white wine
- 2 cups grated Emmental cheese
- 2 cups grated Gruyere cheese
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon kirsch-don’t skip this
- grated nutmeg
- freshly ground pepper
- cubed sourdough or any crusty bread
- veggies for dipping
- apple or pear slices
What you do:
- Throw all the grated cheese in a ziplock bag and toss with cornstarch and leave at room temperature while you prepare the pot.
- Rub the inside of a heavy pot (Dutch oven) all over with garlic clove.
- Add wine and bring to simmer over medium heat on your stove. You can transfer to your fondue pot after you’ve melted the cheese.
- Add cheese bit by bit and break it up as it melts with a zig zag pattern using a wooden spoon. I found mine separating at first until my cheese was fully melted- I wasn’t stirring it properly at first. Keep the heat low. It takes time to do this. Helps to have company in the kitchen and a glass in your hand.
- When the cheese has melted and the mixture is thickened, add kirsch, nutmeg, and ground pepper.
- Pour it all into a fondue pot and light the burner.
- Gather the crowd, give them each a coloured fork, and start dipping.
Hump Day isn’t just for recipes. It’s also Forklift day. Here are other good things raising me up this month:
- this spectacular Canadian who wants us all to talk. Language matters. #BellLetsTalk
- this video of Marcus Stroman winning the You Gotta Have Heart award. Listen to the introduction first-it’s all good.
- this trailer for Hail, Caesar, or rather, for all of you classic movie lovers out there. I know you’re out there. The movie opens Feb.5th.
- this Toronto chocolatier, who just scooped World’s Best Dark Chocolate award. How do I get to be on that jury?
- this best books list to get you reading awesome books for children. Today is Family Literacy Day, as good a day as any to increase your reading.
- this fellow Aquarian who wants you to join her team. I dare you. She invented the word fun.
HAPPY HUMP DAY!!!!!!
Have Your Say