Cheese Fondue For Kids by Jo Pratt
Surprisingly, cheese fondue is a great recipe for kids - you could even serve it at a party. You can dip just about anything in this delicious fondue; try crusty bread, courgette or even grapes (although maybe avoid toy cars and Barbie dolls!).
To save time, buy bags of ready-grated cheese. For a more grown-up version, use wine instead of apple juice. And in the unlikely event that you have leftovers, your fondue can be easily transformed into cauliflower mac 'n' cheese - a quick recipe below.
Prep time:10 minutes
Cook time:5 minutes
Makes: 2 adult or four child portionsIngredients:
100ml/3.fl oz/½ cup apple juice or white wine
2 tsp cornflour
1 small garlic clove, halved
100g/3 ½ oz grated Emmental or Gruyre cheese
100g/3 ½ oz grated Cheddar cheese
¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
For dipping: You choose - anything goes! Try...
Cubes of crusty bread or breadsticks
Lightly cooked vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, courgette or baby corn
Sticks of carrot, cucumber, pepper or cherry tomatoes
Grapes, sliced apple or pear
Cooked tortellini or other small filled pasta shapes
1. Mix 2 tbsp of the apple juice into the cornflour to make a paste. Pour the remaining apple juice into a saucepan and add the garlic. Bring to a simmer over a low heat, without allowing it to boil. Gradually stir in the cheese, allowing it to melt, then stir in the cornflour paste.
2. Cook for a couple of minutes until it is silky smooth and thickened, stirring all the time. If you can find it, fish out the garlic clove, then finish by stirring in the nutmeg.
3. If you know it will be eaten quickly, simply pour the fondue into a warm bowl, or you can, of course, be more traditional and serve in a fondue pot - just make sure kids are careful with the open flame. Or, if you have one, it can be served in a slow cooker set on low.
Leftovers for a family favourite cauliflower mac 'n' cheese:
1. Warm any leftover cheese fondue with a little milk to loosen, then stir in the same quantity of cooked mashed or pureed cauliflower.
2. Mix into cooked macaroni - you'll need about twice as much macaroni as cauliflower. Scatter with a little grated Cheddar cheese and grill until bubbling.
Recipe from Jo Pratt's Madhouse Cookbook.
More recipes from Jo: