Hey...Fondue

There will be times when we occasionally fall off the chuck wagon (see our previous post of the same title) and this just happens to be another one of them.  We've had our very best friends from Switzerland and their children staying with us at Casa de Maven for the last 2 weeks.  They call themselves the Swiss Family Flintstones - cute, huh?  

We really wanted to continue our healthy way of eating when they arrived and thought we could stay the course, but quickly figured out that it wouldn't be any fun for them (especially the kids) nor for us, quite frankly.  They travelled a really long way to see Austin for the first time and by golly we were going to show it to them.  We wanted to make sure they had a great time so we threw everything out the window and decided to go with the flow for their sake. Yeah, yeah, for their sake.  There was no use beating ourselves up about it because having them visit us was a very big deal - a special occasion and cause for celebration - and we knew that we'd be able to get back on track as soon as they were on a plane headed home for the Alps.  Besides, they brought us all kinds of goodies like cheeses, cookies & chocolate and it would be so rude of us not to try them while in their presence, right?  

Especially the cheese (Jenn was jumping for joy).  Switzerland has some of, if not the best, cheese in the world and the stinkier the better. Yes we said Stinkier. Some of it stinks to high heaven - even as bad as dirty feet, but it's delicious!! Yum... dirty feet, stinky cheese.

Just to name a few: Appenzeller, Gruyere, Tilsiter and Raclette - and then there's Fondue... Cheese Fondue - Oh Hell Yes!!!  The recipe we have was handed down to us by our friends, so it's a la Swiss.  Have you ever tried it? Basically it's just cheese - so it helps to be a cheese lover - and garlic (at least that's how we make it) in a communal fondue pot which sits in the middle of the table. 

Folks sit around and take turns dipping their bread, tomatoes and sometimes pears into it with long skewer-like forks. The meal wouldn't be complete without some cold Apfel Schnapps - we put it in the freezer to get it chilled just right before pouring. Watch out for this stuff... it tastes like apple juice (but better) so it sneaks up on you if you throw back too many which of course we always do. We keep a little on the side for soaking the bread beforehand because it really brings out the flavor of the cheese and adds a kick.

Before the first drink of Apfel Schnapps, there's a traditional ritual chant that we perform.  It goes like this:  Zicke Zacke Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi Zicke Hoi Zicke Hoi Zicke Hoi Hoi Hoi.  It doesn't really mean anything- it's just a chant of Cheers.  It's also used as an Oktoberfest drinking chant and we're told the Swiss Military use it, but we don't think they are guzzling Apfel Schnapps afterwards, but who knows?  Once we have accomplished the chant, it's time to throw back the schnapps, start dipping your bread and get the party started.  The chant usually makes it's way into the meal several more times throughout the night.  It goes a little something like this (see video)...

We also enjoy white wine with the meal and have a pot of tea on hand for drinking throughout which helps aid in your digestion. Fondue can be heavy and sit in your stomach like a brick, so tea is the trick to avoiding major constipation (you're welcome). And then there are the garlic cloves at the bottom of the pot which are little nuggets of gold if you are lucky enough to skewer some. We make a game out of it and fight over the cloves if they happen to drop back in the cheese. You can buy a ready-made fondue that comes in a box with 2 foil pouches you cut open and squeeze out into the fondue pot over the stove -

add a little Kirsch (cherry liquor made in the Black Forest of Germany) and some white wine then grab a wooden spoon (it has to have a hole in it so the cheese can flow through) and stir in a figure 8 type movement until melted and smooth. 

It's an old wives tale that if you are a woman and happen to be on your "special time of the month" (you know, when we ladies come across happier than a mocking bird and sweeter than a freshly picked Fredericksburg peach) you are not allowed to stir the fondue as it will fall or fail to turn out right.  They take this very seriously and so do we - we are not taking any chances with that one.  We secretly think that it was made up by women to give them a break from having to cook (even though it's technically really not cooking) and to get the men involved.  Hey ladies, maybe we should use that "special time of the month" excuse all the time, huh?  Unless you are a woman married to woman and then it most definitely won't work in either of your favors.  There is also a fresh fondue version made up of Vacherin and Gruyere cheese, but you can only get it in France or Switzerland at the specialty cheese shop.  They slice it and then put it into a machine which grates it all up for you.  Oh Sugar!!! It's so delicious. When we happen to be in Switzerland visiting our friends and are priviledged enough to get to enjoy this fresh version, we always open the bag on the ride home and eat some. And then some more and some more... it's surprising that there is ever any left by the time we get home. Having Fondue with the Flintstones is definitely a unique, fun, one of a kind experience that never ever disappoints. However, it always turns into an all night affair so you must have your party hat on when you sit down at the table. 

Just ask our neighbor who recently got to experience it when the temperature dropped into the 50's one night making it perfect weather for fondue.  After a bite or two and a shot of Apfel Schnapps he texted his wife, "I may be in trouble".

Scheisse we were up until 6:30 am!! That's right, the sun was coming up and the birds were chirping when we finally decided to call it a night - well, the guys gave up around 5:00ish.  Our neighbor was smart enough to have gone home much earlier in the night and told us the next day that he got up at 4:00 am to let the dog out and heard us still going strong.  Ha-Ha-Ha the women were wreaking havoc upon the night.  So there you have it, a night of Swiss Fondue with the Flintstones & the Black Box Wine Mavens. When the Swiss & the Texans get together (Switxans), you know it's gonna be one hell of a good time!! YodelayYee-Haw!!