#fondue

#fondue

Every year when the leaves fall from the trees and the weather turns crisp, I haul my fondue pot out from the back of my kitchen cabinet, purchase a borderline obscene amount of Alpine cheese, and prepare to host one of my favorite gatherings of the year: a fondue party. Fondue parties are comforting and convivial, the perfect way to embrace the it's-dark-by-5 p.m. season with soft lighting, cozy vibes, and a bubbling, communal pot of cheese at the center of it all.

Swiss steak. I still make it often, it used to be really popular. No one ever makes it anymore. McCormick used to even have a seasoning packet for it. My mom used to make Swiss steak in her avocado green electric skillet. - TNmountaineer Why are cube steaks so difficult to find? They were truly a staple of recipes back in the '70s and '80s when I was growing up. Salisbury steak, Swiss steak, and chicken fried steak (also called country fried steak) were all super popular and used cube steaks. - studyhall109

Derived from the French word meaning "to melt," fondue is one of Swiss cuisine's greatest joys. The warm, comforting dish is most often made with white wine and traditional fondue cheeses, such as Emmenthal, Gruyère, Vacherin Fribourgeois, and Appenzeller cheese. Spear a cube of bread or a boiled potato, then swivel your long metal fork into the bubbling pot of goodness. Called a caquelon, the vessel continues to emit heat while you dine, keeping the mixture melted.

"White wine is the best to use for fondue; Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio," the cooking coach told Tasting Table. Adding wine helps emulsify the cheese and adds acidity."