Spinach Artichoke Cheese Fondue

I love the concept of fondue because it’s very much a social dining experience. There’s no bonding experience quite like having a group of people gather around a pot of melted cheese. But for some reason it seems to be a lost art. I think the problem is a lot of people try to make it, but realize it’s more than just melted cheese so they give up. Or they think they need a fondue set to make it. I’m going to address both of those problems in this blog post, sharing tips for achieving the creamiest fondue, regardless of whether or not you own a fondue set.

Firstly, it’s important to use grated cheese. I think it’s pretty obvious, but grated cheese results in a quicker, smoother fondue. Fortunately, you can find most any cheese grated nowadays. But it you are unable to get the grated version of your favorite cheese, I recommend sticking it in the food processor to save time.

Secondly, coat the grated cheese in cornstarch. The cornstarch protects the proteins and the fat in the cheese from breaking down and becoming clumpy and lumpy. Some recipes use flour, but I think that changes the taste of the fondue, making it more starchy. That being said, if you don’t have cornstarch you can substitute flour.

Thirdly, keep the heat low. If you start with the temperature too high, your fondue will get stiff. It takes patience, but it’s one of the most important tips! If you’re able to measure the temperature, it should be around 140 for 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fourthly, the acid in the wine is very important because the tartaric acid also helps keep the cheese proteins from breaking down and prevent clumping. Citric acid in lemon juice also works, but it’s best to have a combination of the two. You don’t need to buy an expensive wine because it won’t affect the taste much when you cook it. But keep in mind it should be a dry white wine for classic fondue.

Fifthly, slowly add the cheese. This helps with the melting process and once again helps prevent the fondue’s biggest enemy, clumping!

Now that it’s time to make the fondue, what are you going to put it in? There are several very good options if you do not own a fondue set.

You can make it in a slow cooker. The constant low heat is actually really great for making fondue and keeping it warm. I recommend making sure the pot is hot though before you add the ingredients.
The indirect heat of a double boiler also works really well.
Serve your fondue in a cast iron skillet. A cast iron skillet retains heat well. It will just be harder to maintain a constant temperature.
Essentially, the fondue set I have is just a ceramic bowl and a tera light. You could easily make your own version of a similar contraption.

Once your fondue is made, you can always use wooden skewers instead of special little dipping forks. Some good options for dippers are cubed bread, sausage, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, apples, potatoes, or anything else your brain can imagine.

Spinach Artichoke Cheese Fondue
Ingredients

• 1 garlic clove, cut in half
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded
• 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper

Directions

1. Rub garlic cloves on inside of fondue pot until well-coated
2. Add white wine and heat on medium until steaming
3. Add spinach and artichoke hearts and continue to heat until spinach starts to wild
4. Toss cheese with cornstarch until cheese is well-coated and add to pot one handful at a time on low heat.
5. Stir and continue to add cheese until cheese is melted completely.
6. Add lemon juice, salt, and white pepper
7. Keep in pot on low heat until ready to serve
8. If fondue thickens too much, you can add a splash of wine to loosen it a bit

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Pretzel Beer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

This is a sponsored post by Challenge Butter, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

If you're looking for a topic everyone can unite behind for the greater good of humans across the globe, I regret to inform you that grilled cheese is not that topic. When I posted my deluxe grilled cheese recipe last year for National Grilled Cheese Day, I quickly learned that many people have very different opinions about whether a sandwich with ingredients other than cheese can even be called a grilled cheese.

So this year as I prepared my segment for National Grilled Cheese Month, I decided to take out the debate completely by only using cheese in my sandwich filling. But of course, I had to make it unique. And this Pretzel Beer Grilled Cheese Sandwich was born!

If I'm being honest, the idea evolved from a lobster roll I had over the weekend from one of my favorite fish places in Indianapolis, Caplinger's Fresh Catch. They use a pretzel roll with their lobster roll which I really appreciate because I feel like pretzel rolls are very underused. Once I decided to use a pretzel roll for my recipe, beer cheese dip was just a natural addition.

But actually, the beer cheese dip which consists of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese works really well in a grilled cheese recipe because it's creamy and it melts well. Also, the shredded cheeses in the dip melt quickly as well.

I sandwiched the beer cheese dip in between two slices of gouda. Gouda will always be one of my favorite cheese to use for grilled cheese because it's extremely flavorful, and it melts really well.

TIP: Avoid "sharp" and "smoked" when picking out your cheeses. Sharp cheddar is aged longer than mild cheddar cheese and does not melt well at all. Avoid it entirely. Also, when you smoke a cheese, it messes with its ability to melt. So avoid smoked gouda, and stick with regular gouda.

Now that we've discussed the best cheeses to use, I'd like to share one more tip: You can make grilled cheese sandwiches for a crowd by cooking them in the oven. Cue gasps! Yes, I said it, it's true. That's why I saved this one for last because I know it would be a bit controversial.

Here's the deal, I hate it when you're trying to make grilled cheese for multiple people on the stove, and no one gets served at the same time. So the first person gets their grilled cheese, and they finish it before the second person is even served. Or their sandwich gets cold while they wait around for everyone else to get served. Cooking grilled cheese sandwiches in the oven solves that problem because you can cook about six to eight sandwiches at the same time. The best way to get the sandwiches to taste like their grilled cheese and not just baked sandwiches is by placing a pan on top while they're baking so the outside of the bread gets crispy just like it would on the stove.



Pretzel Beer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Yield: Makes about 8 sandwiches
Ingredients

• 8 ounces Challenge cream cheese
• 2 cups cheddar cheese 
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup beer
• 2 Tablespoons dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 4 Tablespoons Challenge butter, melted
• 8 pretzel rolls or pretzel buns
• 16 slices gouda cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit; place two baking pans in oven
2. Beat together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, beer, dijon mustard, and garlic powder. Set aside.
3. Brush melted butter onto bottom half of pretzel buns; remove one baking pan from oven and place the bottoms of the rolls in the pan. 
4. Add a slice of gouda to each sandwich. Top with 3 Tablespoons of beer cheese dip mixture. Add another slice of gouda and top with other half of bun.
5. Brush melted butter on top of sandwiches.
6. Remove other baking pan from the oven and stick on top of sandwiches. Add heavy objects to top pan to ensure it is weighted down on top of buns, and stick it into the oven.
7. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until everything is melted through.

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Chocolate Cheesecake Easter Eggs

This is a sponsored post by Challenge Butter, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

I'm celebrating Easter with these cheesecake-filled chocolate Easter eggs! I initially wanted to buy chocolate eggs and cut the tops off, but I couldn't find chocolate eggs in stores. Well, I should say I couldn't find them for under $5 which is ridiculous, and you should absolutely not pay that much money for a hollow egg.

So I made the chocolate egg all by myself using a balloon because I'm an I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T woman. It is incredibly easy to do, all you need is a water balloon and melted chocolate. But before you move onto the recipe I have a very important tip! And if you're tired of my rambling and you've already move onto the recipe PLEASE COME BACK! What I'm about to say is very important for the well-being of the state of your kitchen, your clothes, and your sanity. You absolutely must wait for the chocolate to cool completely before you dip these balloons! If you don't wait, the balloons will pop causing the melted chocolate to fly everywhere. Each time you heat up the chocolate, you should wait until the bowl is not warm to the touch, or about 10 minutes. You may only get a few dips out of it before it starts to harden again, so you'll need to reheat it and wait until it cools again. But that's okay. Do what I do while I'm waiting and "rest your eyes."

Also, if you don't like the way one of your bowls turned out, you can always remelt it and try again. There will be no wasted chocolate in the making of these Easter eggs!

Another tip: If you find that the water balloon is sticking to the inside of the chocolate egg, it's because you didn't let it cool off long enough. Refrigerate your eggs a little longer and try again.



Chocolate Cheesecake Easter Eggs
Yield: Makes about 6 chocolate eggs
Ingredients

• 8 ounces chocolate, melted and cooled
• 8 ounces Challenge cream cheese
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• About 1/2 cup lemon curd or lemon pie filling, just enough to make yolks
• Also: Water balloons

Directions

1. Dip balloons in chocolate so bottom portion and part of sides are completely covered. Set on baking sheet covered in wax paper and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make cheesecake filling by beating together cream cheese, powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla.
3. Pull balloons out of refrigerator and pop balloons. Peel balloon away from inside of egg.
4. Fill eggs with cheesecake filling. I recommend putting the filling in a large plastic bag, cutting off one corner, and piping it in.
5. Add a dollop of the lemon curd to look like a yolk. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Ravioli Nachos

Today is National Ravioli Day, but I'm sure you already knew that... right?! I'm sharing a very unique recipe on FOX59 News​... ravioli nachos! I already know some people are thinking, "What the heck. Why would you do this? Nachos are already delicious." But you know what, ravioli is also delicious. And if you toast them in the oven, you basically have the equivalent of a cheese-stuffed chip, and I never turn down anything stuffed with cheese.

Nachos are, of course, a very popular game day snack, and this ravioli version is just a little heartier and a little carbier (not a word, but it should be). With the NCAA tournament currently going on, this would be a great snack to watch your favorite team.

I started by toasting the ravioli to make ravioli "chips." There are a couple of ways to do this, but I found my favorite way by trial and error. First step: cook the ravioli per package directions. So I cooked these in boiling water on the stove for about 3 minutes. Then I tossed them with a little olive oil and salt, and I laid them out on a baking sheet. The olive oil is actually very important. I found them to be quite rubbery without the olive oil. Then you bake them at a very high temperature -- 425 degrees for 12 minutes.

Once you're done baking the ravioli chips, just load them up like nachos on the baking sheet. You're going to want to melt the cheese though, so it's important that the first toppings you add to your nachos can be heated. For example, I added bean, jalapenos and olives first before adding the cheese. Then I stuck it back in the oven so the cheese melted.

Then you'll want to add your fresh food items, like tomato, pico de gallo, green onion, etc.

Also, while I was focused on turning ravioli into nachos, I came up with another great nacho idea -- pizza nachos!

You start the same way with the toasted ravioli, but then you add pizza toppings on top, like sausage, green pepper, olives, tomatoes, and pepperoni; then that's all covered in pizza sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, with a little oregano. And top it off with a little basil.

Ravioli Nachos
Ingredients

• 1 (20 ounce) package ravioli
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Toppings of your choice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Cook ravioli in boiling water for about 3 minutes
3. Drain and dry ravioli and toss with olive oil and salt
4. Space ravioli out evenly on baking sheet and bake for  about 12 minutes or until they start to turn golden
5. Remove from oven and add toppings like meat, beans, jalapenos, and cheese
6. Put back in oven for about 3 minutes, or until cheese has melted
7. Add additional toppings and serve

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Shepherd’s Pie Potato Skins

Shepherd’s pie is just about the coziest of comfort foods you can imagine —meat, potatoes, gravy, and vegetables. It’s a staple in Irish cooking because the main ingredients are readily available, and it’s an economic way to use leftover ingredients. I can certainly attest this.

It was wonderful to be able to save money by using leftover ingredients already in my refrigerator for this week's recipe. Some of you may or may not know this, but I pay for all of the ingredients for my Kylee’s Kitchen recipes and segments on my own (with the exception of Challenge butter).

Depending on the recipe, it can get pretty expensive. So it was nice to be able to save a few bucks using leftover ingredients. In fact, this was actually one of the cheapest recipes I’ve created.
So if you’re looking for a hearty, tasty dish that’s inexpensive to make, definitely give this recipe a try!

Shepherd’s Pie Potato Skins
Yield: Makes 8 potato skins
Ingredients
For the filling

• 1 pound ground beef or lamb
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (16 ounce) bag frozen peas and carrots (or about 2-3 cups fresh)
• 1 cup beef stock
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• 1 teaspoon pepper

For the potatoes

• 8 large russet potatoes
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4 Tablespoons Challenge butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

Directions
For the filling

1. Add ground meat, onion, and garlic to large pan and cook over medium high heat until meat is browned and cooked
2. Add remaining filling ingredients and stir to combine. Bring to simmer and continue to stir until meat mixture has thickened.
3. Remove from heat 

For the potatoes

1. Clean potatoes thoroughly and prick with fork about 5 times 
2. Microwave potatoes for 10 minutes, rotating halfway through
3. Cut off the tops of potatoes and scoop out center, making sure to leave the skin intact
4. Dump scooped out potato in bowl; add milk, butter, salt, and garlic powder and mash until smooth
5. Put mashed potatoes in piping bag with large tip

Assembly

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Fill each “hollow” potato with filling, packing it down into potato
3. Pipe mashed potatoes on top of filling
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes; sprinkle with parsley if desired and serve

Recipe adapted from Recipe Tin Eats

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Spring lasagna using seasonal vegetables

This is a sponsored post by Challenge Butter, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

I cannot stress enough the importance of eating seasonally and eating locally. First of all, fruits and vegetables are most flavorful when they’re in season. That’s because the produce is growing close to where you love, so it can be harvested at its peak when it is most flavorful. It’s not being harvested early and sitting in a shipping container awaiting a trip across the continent before reaching your table. Produce loses a substantial amount of taste when it ripens after it’s picked from the vine. Also, because the produce is being grown closer to where you live, you’re supporting local farmers by buying their products.

When talking about eating seasonally, I can’t neglect to point out the obvious — it’s significantly cheaper! I remember back in December I saw asparagus listed at $3.99 per pound. No wonder people think it’s expensive! But that’s just because it wasn’t in season. Asparagus is known as a spring vegetable, so of course it’s being shipped from somewhere far away in order for it to be available in December. But as asparagus season gets closer, this week I saw it as low aa $1.39 per pound. That’s a huge difference!

Speaking of asparagus, did you know that it’s actually one of the earliest crops available in Indiana. It’s season is from April to June. Spinach is also one of the earliest crops to pop up in the state. So in the spirit of eating seasonally, I decided to create a “Spring Lasagna” using both of those vegetables. It’s much lighter than a traditional red meat sauce lasagna. I think the lemon zest really brings out the flavor of the cheeses. I did not add meat to this lasagna because I haven’t shared any meatless recipes in a while, and I thought it was rich enough without meat. But if you are really dying to get that extra protein, I think pancetta sprinkled in between the layers would be delightful. Or also, you could add shredded chicken.

One last thing that’s important for me to note: I used oven-ready lasagna noodles. Why? Well, first of all, it’s easier, and you all know I opt for the route with less steps. And secondly, oven-ready lasagna noodles are generally thinner which contribute to this dish being lighter than most lasagna recipes.

Spring Lasagna
Yield: Serves about 9 people, depending how big you cut your slices
Ingredients

• 12 ounces asparagus
• 1/3 cup Challenge butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 cups milk
• 8 ounces Challenge cream cheese
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 
• 1/4 cup basil
• 2 1/2 cups ricotta
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella
• 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 9 oven-ready lasagna noodles
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Prepare asparagus by cutting off about the last inch of the stalk; proceed to cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces
2. Microwave asparagus pieces in microwave-safe bowl for 3 minutes to make pieces more tender
3. Separate asparagus tips from rest of asparagus pieces and set aside; this is because the tips are the “prettiest” part of the asparagus and they will be sprinkled on top in the final step
4. Start making sauce by melting butter in large saucepan
5. Add 1/2 cup flour and whisk for 1 minute to make a roux
6. Add milk and whisk for about 10 minutes until sauce starts to thicken; do not let sauce boil
7. Add cream cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and nutmeg
8. Stir in basil and set aside
9. Make filling by mixing together ricotta, spinach, mozzarella, salt, and Italian seasoning; set aside
10. Spray 9x13 pan and put a little sauce at bottom of pan before adding noodles
11. Add 3 lasagna noodles over top of the sauce; followed by 1 cup of sauce. Spread sauce across noodles to coat evenly
12. Add half of ricotta cheese mixture on top of sauce, and then add half of your asparagus pieces 
13. Repeat the steps of this assembly one more time
14. Finish by adding 3 lasagna noodles; 1 cup of sauce; parmesan; and asparagus tips
15. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 35 to 40 minutes

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Irish Cheddar Beer Soup

This is a sponsored post by Challenge Butter, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

Confession: I’ve never really been one to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Green is my least favorite color, so I don’t have any green clothing items and I always get pinched. Also, like I mentioned last week, I don’t drink, and I feel like that’s a big part of the holiday. So because I feel like I’ve neglected to celebrate it throughout the years, I decided to delve into the Irish cuisine and make something festive this year. This recipe is coming to you a little early because, to be completely honest, I thought St. Patrick’s Day was March 7 — not three weeks from now! Oh well! I hope you enjoy this Irish Cheddar Beer Soup! I’m telling you, what it lacks in nutritional value, it makes up for in taste!

Irish Cheddar Beer Soup
Yield: Makes about 8 cups of soup
Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon Challenge butter or bacon grease if you’re making bacon to garnish soup
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 cans (14.5 ounces) chicken broth
• 16 ounces Irish beer
• 1 pound cheddar cheese, shredded
• 16 ounces Challenge cream cheese, cubed so it melts into the soup more easily
• 2 Tablespoons dijon mustard
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 
• Optional: Crumbled bacon and green onions, if desired for topping

Directions

1. Set a large pot over medium heat. Add butter, onion, and garlic, and sauté for for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent. 
2. Sprinkle flour and cayenne pepper on top, and stir until everything is coated
3. Pour the chicken broth and beer into pot and bring to boil
4. Add cheddar cheese, cream cheese, dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce to broth. 
5. Whisk to melt the cheese and break up the cream cheese cubes. Continue to whisk at simmer until soup is completely smooth and slightly thickened, or about 10 minutes. 
6. Garnish with bacon and green onions if desired.

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