Dip-a-dee-doo-dah, dip-a-dee-ay. My, oh, my, it's National Cheese Fondue Day!
Well, OK, not quite yet, but it will be very soon. Saturday, April 11, is when things heat up. So who's with me? Let's have some fun-due with our fondue (I know that was a cheesy pun) and get dippin'.
First, we need to sort our dippers.
Like Harry Potter, we have four categories. Unlike Harry Potter, though, we don't have magic wands and an old hat that sings. But if anyone would like to write a fondue dipper sorting song for the occasion (you might get inspired by Freak Nasty's "Da Dip"), I'd be ever so pleased.
In the meantime, the rest of us will make do with our metal prongs and Wingardium Leviosa our hors d'oeuvres to their proper places. Check out the spread.
The Dippers
• Veggies: broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, artichoke, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, eggplant, pickles
• Fruits: avocado, apples, pears, grapes, figs
• Meats: pepperoni, salami, pastrami, cubed steak, chicken, shrimp, lobster, bacon, bologna, hot dogs
• Breads: pretzels, sourdough, French baguette, herbed crostini, cornbread, croissants
You may also like the idea of crafting these basic food groups into premium dipper delights like french fries, tater tots, toasted tortellini, onion rings, pigs in a blanket, pizza bites, mini sliders or pretty much anything edible that you can think of. Dippers are totally underrated.
There are as many fondues as there are cheeses to melt, which is a Gouda-mount, so rest assured there's a dip for every fondude and fondudette. These are just a cultured few of Pinterest's many cheese champions.
The Dips
• Craft Beer Cheese Fondue
Hark! Craft beer lovers. You're encouraged to pour your choice of brew into this 'due.
• Gouda Cheese Fondue with Garlic, White Wine and Nutmeg
A fondue is so flavorful it's sure to make you melt.
• Gouda and Beer Fondue Bread Bowl
This is a dip and dipper in itself. If that's not impressive enough, the fondue also integrates beer and Gouda, my personal favorite, into the mix. Practical and tasty.
• Creamy Parmesan and Garlic Fondue
Parmesan and garlic are good on just about anything, and they're even better melted into a creamy concoction to be served on everything.
• Black Truffle Cheese Fondue
This fondue is not to be truffled with. It's perfect in every way, and I'll just leave it at that.
• Irish Cheddar Whiskey Fondue
While beer and cheese might not be a surprising pair, whiskey is a different story. This dip will finish off your leftover bottle from St. Patty's Day, take celebrating Cheese Fondue Day to a whole new level and make for an excellent appetizer.
• The Ultimate Vegan Cheese Fondue
I didn't forget about you, my lactose and otherwise intolerant folks. It's a creamy, delicious and totally dairy-free 'due.
This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2015.