Cheesy Beer Fondue

I thought that this year our family would start a new tradition and use Christmas Eve day to celebrate being our own individual family... We spend so much time running around to all of the extended family that usually our own Christmas seems very rushed. So, we sat down together and opened presents in the morning and while the kids enjoyed the new toys that they got, I set to work on lunch. We had fondue! :) I personally love a good fondue and what kid doesn't like to be able pick and choose their own food to dip into some yummy cheese?? We all enjoyed it immensely and after cleaning up and a little more playing took a little snooze to get ready for all the running that we have coming up!


Cheesy Beer Fondue
(recipe found at www.foodnetwork.com)

4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 (12 ounce) bottle lager beer
1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 cups shredded cheddar

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes while stirring constantly to make a roux. Add beer and bring to slow boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until mixture thickens to the consistency of heavy cream. Add worcestershire, mustard and cayenne, stirring thoroughly. Add cheese 1 cup at a time, melting cheese after each addition. Stir fondue until it is smooth. Turn into fondue pot and serve.

I served my fondue with beer bread, carrots, cauliflower, pretzel rods and apples.