| Raclette... what the heck is raclette?Well, think of | | | | fun and easy way to entertain, but anybody you |
| it as a combination of fondue and BBQ. It's the | | | | introduce to it will immediatly want to have their |
| most fun way to have a party or a gathering or | | | | own grill.These recipes are many and varied. I've |
| a celebration for your family.It's special. It's unique. | | | | tried to include a couple of the best ones and will |
| And you'll amaze your friends when you invite | | | | continue to add more as time goes on. There are |
| them over for a different kind of dinner. It's the | | | | endless varieties and ways in which to use this |
| name of a meal that can be an entire meal or | | | | wonderful mode of cooking.Below are some of |
| just as a fun appetizer.The name comes from | | | | my favorite recipes and some information about |
| the practice of melting cheese and the French | | | | cheese and indoor grilling. Enjoy and grill to your |
| word "racler" meaning "to scrape."History buffs will | | | | heart's content!Traditional Swiss |
| tell you that this custom of melting cheese began | | | | Classic or traditional Swiss Raclette is a simple |
| on the faraway hillsides of the Valais region of | | | | meal that can be enjoyed by all. Invite your inlaws |
| Switzerland. This is recorded around the end of | | | | or boss's family to discover the absolutely unique |
| the 19th century. During the fall when life got | | | | and yummy taste of Switzerland.What you'll need: |
| chilly, and the wine harvest was coming to an | | | | - 2 lbs/1kg small new potatoes |
| end, the grape harvesters would bring their | | | | - 1 1/2 lbs/800g Swiss Raclette cheese, cut into |
| bagged or sacked lunches made up of a little loaf | | | | slicesSide dishes: |
| of brown bread, sometimes some cheese, and | | | | - A selection of ham, such as proscuitto, parma |
| always, a bottle of wine.As legends are told, the | | | | ham etc. |
| custom of raclette began with the men stabbing a | | | | - Baguettes |
| piece of cheese with a large buck knife. They | | | | - Gherkins, pickled onions |
| would then go to the fire made up for warmth | | | | - Fresh pepper.First, wash the potatoes and boil |
| and hold the stabbed cheese over the fire. As the | | | | them in their skin until cooked. Place the potatoes, |
| cheese made contact, it would start to melt. The | | | | cheese and all side dishes on the table. Place a |
| result was a beautiful golden texture just perfect | | | | slice of cheese into a raclette dish and place under |
| for sopping up with bread or whatever else they | | | | the grill to melt. When the cheese has melted |
| had in their sacks.As the men slowly scraped the | | | | scrape it onto the potatoes, gherkins and pickled |
| melting cheese, others recognized how good it all | | | | onions.Grind fresh pepper on top and enjoy the |
| tasted. And good it was! So begins a custom of | | | | melted cheese concoction you just made with |
| grilling cheese that has a long tradition in both | | | | your choice of ham and a piece of warm |
| Switzerland and France.Grilling Raclette cheese is | | | | baguette. This serves 8 people. |
| only part of it.Not only will you be thrilled with this | | | | |