At the table: Raclette

Contributor post by Stacey Foster of Verla Ivans and Love Independent

There's always a lot of traditions that are enjoyed over the holidays and one of my favorite is our annual raclette party. Raclette is a type of Swiss cheese that historically was carried by cow herders who would place a rock near the campfire and melt the cheese on the rock, then pour it over bread. Modernly, there are several types of electric raclette machines available. Guests gather around the table and the raclette machine sits in the center, surrounded by plates of foods and cheeses. Recipes typically call for a variety of meats, such as prosciutto or capicola, vegetables, like green peppers, mushrooms and onions as well as a good helping of boiled small potatoes and slices of French bread. Everyone places their choice of grillables on the top of the raclette machine and a slice of the cheese in a little tray that goes under the raclette machine. Once things are cooked and the cheese is melted, the food goes on your plate and the cheese is poured over it. You can also try other cheeses that melt well, such as Gruyère, Appenzeller, Emmentaler and Morbier. There's no limit to what works for a raclette party, if it sounds good, it probably will be! If your holiday calendar isn't full yet, I highly suggest inviting everyone over for a raclette night!

Thanks for spending your time with me here the last few days! I wish the Sycamore Street Press family and friends all the very best and happy holidays!

Cheese image by farlane and Raclette image