True Blue Romantic Gluten-Free Fondue

Celiac.com 02/24/2018 - Forget about Valentine's Day. Well, not literally, you should definitely do something nice for your Valentine; but let's put that aside for a moment. Just about any day can be right for a romantic dinner if you plan ahead and keep it simple. One suggestion: fondue.

Few dishes can so effortlessly anchor a simple, romantic dinner as traditional Swiss fondue. Yes, you could make your own fondue, but I prefer to make it easy by dropping by my local Trader Joe's.

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Made in Switzerland, Trader Joe's Fondue is a blend of Swiss Emmental and Gruyère cheeses, white wine, kirsch, a dry cherry brandy, and a selection of savory spices.

Trader Joe's also make a French version called Isigny Ste Mère Fondue Normande, which is made with soft cheeses Camembert, Livarot, and Pont L'Eveque cheeses and apple brandy.

Want my recipe for the easiest, most romantic gluten-free dinner I know?

Lightly steam some broccoli, asparagus, carrots, zucchini, potatoes until tender, but firm. Cut them into bite-sized chunks and arrange on a plate. Also add cut apples, pears, some toasted gluten-free bread, and some good ham or sausage.

Grab a box of Trader Joe's Fondue, and prepare as directed. If you don't have a fondue pot, you can still heat the fondue in the microwave and serve it a ramekin or other ceramic dish. The ceramic will hold the heat well, and help keep the fondue fit for dipping.

Spread out on a blanket near the fireplace, and if you don't have a fireplace, turn on one of those fireplace videos on YouTube.

Pour a glass of your favorite wine, dig in, and enjoy your lingering, romantic dinner.

If you don't have a Trader Joe's nearby, or feeling DIY? Fret not. Here's a great recipe recipe for an easy gluten-free beer and cheddar fondue.

Gluten-Free Beer and Cheddar Fondue

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces light gluten-free beer
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic
• ¼ teaspoon Gluten-free Louisiana-style hot sauce
• 4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch or potato starch
• Cooked sausage or ham, cut to bite-size
• New potatoes, steamed and cut to size
• Gluten-free Bread, toasted and cut into cubes
• Apples cut into bite-size squares
• Pear cut into bite-size squares
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• asparagus
• carrots
• zucchini

Directions:
Heat beer, Dijon mustard, garlic, and hot sauce in 4-quart saucepan on low; whisk in Cheddar cheese tossed with cornstarch until melted and smooth. Pour into a warm ramekin or other ceramic dish.

Lightly steam some broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, carrots, zucchini, potatoes until tender, but firm. Cut into bite-sized chunks and arrange on a plate.

Add cut apples, pears, toasted gluten-free bread, and good ham or sausage.

To serve, spear fruit, veggies or meat with a fork and dip in cheese. Eat and repeat.