Side dishes worth celebrating

(Family Features) A holiday feast is made magical by the array of sides that create a symphony of flavors and textures worth celebrating. Cheese is always a crowd-pleaser, and these rich, creamy, cheesy sides can earn you high praise from friends and family.

Make your side dishes extra special by putting a twist on traditional mashed potatoes or serving up a fresh take on a decadent fondue. If you’re out to make a big impression, these croquettes feature a crispy outer crust surrounding a melty, cheesy center for a flavor explosion that lights up your taste buds.

The secret to each of these recipes is mild, mellow, nutty cheese. Best recognized as a classic wedge available in original and smoked flavors, Jarlsberg Brand Cheese has a mild, mellow, nutty flavor, and offers a naturally lactose and gluten free way to make culinary magic this holiday season.

Find more holiday-worthy recipes, and learn more about the rich, 60-year Norwegian heritage of Jarlsberg Cheese, at jarlsberg.com.

Croquettes

Servings: 4

Tomato Sauce:

• 10 ounces tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon curry
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Croquettes:

• 4 ounces Jarlsberg cheese
• 4 ounces cured ham
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 tablespoons shallots
• 2 tablespoons parsley
• 10 gelatin leaves
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour, plus extra for dredging
• 3 cups milk
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 4 cups cooking oil
• 2 eggs
• 6 tablespoons breadcrumbs

1. To prepare sauce, chop up tomatoes and finely chop garlic. In saucepan, mix tomatoes, garlic, cinnamon, sugar and curry, and allow to simmer about 1 hour. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
2. To make croquettes, grate cheese, cut ham into small pieces and finely chop garlic, shallots and parsley. Soak gelatin leaves in cold water 5 minutes.
3. In saucepan, combine butter, 3 tablespoons flour and milk and bring to boil to make thick, white sauce. Squeeze water from gelatin and melt into sauce. Stir until smooth then stir in cheese until melted. Add ham, shallots and parsley, and season with salt and pepper.
4. Pour mixture into square tin to depth of about 1 inch. Smooth top and leave to cool. Cut into about 40 1-by-2-inch rectangular slices.
5. Heat oil in shallow skillet. Meanwhile, beat eggs lightly until frothy. Coat croquettes in flour, dip into egg then coat with breadcrumbs. Repeat for double-coating and fry until golden.

Baked Mashed Potatoes

Servings: 7

• 4 large baking potatoes
• 1 cup shredded Jarlsberg cheese
• 1 cup milk
• 1 container sour cream
• 1 cup butter
• salt
• fresh ground black pepper

1. Heat oven to 350° F.
2. Place potatoes in large pot of salted water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until tender. Drain and transfer potatoes to flat bottom bowl and mash. Add cheese, milk, sour cream, butter, salt and pepper. Mash all ingredients with potatoes until smooth. Pour mixture into baking pan and cover with foil. Bake, 30 minutes, covered. Uncover potatoes during last 10 minutes to allow browning.

Cheese Fondue

Serves: 4

• 16 ounces Jarlsberg cheese
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 cups white wine
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon kirsch (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• salt, to taste
• nutmeg, to taste

1. Grate cheese, or cut into small cubes.
2. Rub inside of saucepan with garlic. Heat white wine and lemon juice on medium-low heat, but do not boil.
3. Meanwhile, mix flour and cheese in bowl. Slowly add cheese while stirring in remaining ingredients. If fondue is too thin, add more cheese. If fondue is too hard, add more wine.
4. Serve with crusty cubes of French or Italian bread, broccoli, cauliflowers, pepper strips, mushrooms, potatoes, asparagus spears or Granny Smith apple slices for dipping.

Variations: Substitute white wine with champagne, or add roasted garlic, fine herbs or bacon.

Jerusalem Artichokes Au Gratin

Servings: 4

• 2 cups Jerusalem artichokes
• 4 shallots
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 1/3 cups creme fraiche
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• lemon juice, to taste
• 1 1/3 cups grated Jarlsberg cheese
• fresh herbs
• fresh ground black pepper

1. Heat oven to 400° F.
2. Peel artichokes and cut into approximately 1/4-inch slices. Cut shallots into wedges and finely chop garlic. In bowl, combine artichokes, shallots and garlic with creme fraiche, and add salt, pepper and lemon juice, to taste.
3. Spoon mixture into ovenproof dish and sprinkle grated cheese on top. Bake on center rack 30-40 minutes. Serve with fresh herbs and fresh ground black pepper.

Source: Jarlsberg Cheese

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(Family Features) Holiday gatherings call for an extra touch to make the celebrating special. Since many holiday festivities are centered on food, focus some attention on the refreshments for a simple way to upgrade your next holiday party.

From the presentation to the pairings, it’s easy to make an ordinary spread extraordinary this holiday season. Take this year’s event to the next level with these easy tips that bring the wow-factor to your gathering:

Make it look as pretty as it tastes. Even simple platters of crackers and cheese can feel extra special when presented on a pretty plate. If you’re serving food buffet style, use a colorful tablecloth and stack sturdy boxes of varying sizes underneath to serve as risers that create some visual interest for the spread. Incorporate seasonal decorations such as ornaments or sprigs of holly and poinsettia blooms. For a plated meal, a table-runner adds just the right pop of color and a tasteful centerpiece of candles or evergreen dressed with holiday trinkets elevates an everyday table.

Offer the perfect pairings. When planning your menu, consider the types of beverages you’ll serve along with the appetizers and dishes. When paired properly, food and cocktails complement one another, making the flavors more vibrant and the overall experience more impressive. A good starting place is cheese. Pair alpine-style cheese such as Roth Grand Cru with Riesling; creamy blue with gin; smoky blue with merlot; Havarti with pinot noir; Spanish-style such as Roth GranQueso with scotch; and Gouda with prosecco.

Enhance traditional favorites. Putting a fresh, elegant spin on the basics instantly elevates your menu and the overall experience for your guests. Even a staple like cheese can get some special dressing for the occasion. This recipe combines three rich, flavorful cheeses for a fondue that’s sure to delight guests.

Explore more ideas for exceptional holiday entertaining at rothcheese.com.

Culinary Education Center House Fondue

Cook time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6

• 3/4 pound Grand Cru Original, shredded
• 3/4 pound Grand Cru Reserve, shredded
• 1/2 pound Roth Fontina, shredded
• 16 ounces Pinot Grigio or other light- to medium-bodied white wine
• 1 loaf crusty artisan bread
• fresh apples, grapes and pears
• black and white pepper (optional)
• nutmeg (optional)

1. Combine cheeses and wine in ceramic fondue pot and stir to combine. Allow mixture to soak 15-30 minutes.
2. Heat mixture over low heat, approximately 7-10 minutes, stirring constantly with wooden spoon. Do not allow mixture to boil. When cheese has melted completely, remove from heat and transfer to tabletop burner.
3. Serve fondue with chunks of bread and fruit. If desired, provide pepper and/or nutmeg guests can sprinkle onto a plate and use for dipping bread and cheese. Pair with chilled dry Riesling and a shot of authentic Swiss kirschwasser.

Source: Roth Cheese

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(Family Features) Planning ahead for family meals around the holidays can be a headache-inducing practice, but putting to work recipes that everyone can enjoy makes it a much more enjoyable process. By planning out an evening’s worth of courses, you can take care of hungry pre-dinner guests, knock a main dish out of the park and cap off everyone’s night with a spectacular dessert.

These recipes for Culinary Education Center House Fondue, Pan Chicken with Grapefruit Shallots and Mint Sauce, and Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake will help keep everybody satisfied throughout the party, from start to finish. Find more holiday recipes at culinary.net.

Fruit and Fowl for Family

Make your meal delightfully tasty with simple-to-create Pan Chicken with Grapefruit Shallots and Mint Sauce. This quick, easy recipe pairs succulent chicken with sweet Texas grapefruit juice, which provides a light flavor enhancement and a fat-free source of beneficial components such as vitamin A, vitamin C and lycopene. Find more recipes that take advantage of grapefruit’s quality and taste at Texasweet.com.

Pan Chicken with Grapefruit Shallots and Mint Sauce
Servings: 4

• 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus additional, to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper, plus additional, to taste
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved
• 3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 1/4 cup shallots
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup fresh Texas Rio Star Grapefruit juice
• 1 tablespoon minced mint, divided
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 4 mint leaves

1. Salt and pepper chicken.
2. In large skillet, heat half the oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear until both sides are browned well, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer chicken to plate and tent with foil.
3. Reduce heat to medium and add remaining oil to pan. Add shallots and crushed red pepper. Cook about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
4. In small bowl, whisk together broth, grapefruit juice, half the minced mint and flour. Add to skillet. Cook, whisking until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
5. Return chicken to skillet with juices; reduce heat to low. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes.
6. Serve chicken with sauce spooned over. Use remaining minced mint and mint leaves to garnish.

Melted and Amazing

From the presentation to the pairings, it’s easy to make an ordinary spread extraordinary this holiday season. Cheese is a good starting place for properly pairing food and wine to make flavors more vibrant. Take this year’s event to the next level with this Culinary Education Center House Fondue to bring the wow-factor to your gathering by combining three melted cheeses with light wine for an enjoyable appetizer. To find more ways to incorporate cheese into your holiday entertaining, visit rothcheese.com.

Culinary Education Center House Fondue
Cook time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6

• 3/4 pound Grand Cru Original, shredded
• 3/4 pound Grand Cru Reserve, shredded
• 1/2 pound Roth Fontina, shredded
• 16 ounces Pinot Grigio or other light- to medium-bodied white wine
• 1 loaf crusty artisan bread
• fresh apples, grapes and pears
• black and white pepper (optional)
• nutmeg (optional)

1. In ceramic fondue pot, combine cheeses and wine; stir to combine. Allow mixture to soak 15-30 minutes.
2. Heat mixture over low heat, approximately 7-10 minutes, stirring constantly with wooden spoon. Do not allow mixture to boil. When cheese has melted completely, remove from heat and transfer to tabletop burner.
3. Serve fondue with chunks of bread and fruit. If desired, provide pepper and/or nutmeg guests can sprinkle onto a plate and use for dipping bread and cheese. Pair with chilled dry Riesling and a shot of authentic Swiss kirschwasser.

A Chocolatey Finishing Touch

There’s no better way to round out a holiday party than with a delicious dessert, especially one packed with everyone’s favorite ingredient – chocolate. This candy-coated Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake can put the finishing touch on your holiday celebration. Find more scrumptious dessert recipes at nestle.com.

Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake
Servings: 12

• 3/4 cup Nestlé Toll House Baking Cocoa, plus extra for coating pans
• 2 1/4 cups cake flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup brewed coffee or water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups superfine sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2-3 containers (16 ounces each) prepared chocolate frosting, or about 3 3/4-5 1/2 cups homemade
• 1-2 Nestlé Crunch Candy Bars, finely chopped
• 24-36 pieces Nestlé Butterfinger Bites Candy, finely chopped

1. Heat oven to 350° F.
2. Grease bottoms of three 8- or 9-inch-round cake pans; line with parchment or wax paper circle. Grease parchment then coat lightly with small amount of cocoa, tapping out excess.
3. In large bowl, sift together flour, 3/4 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt. In small bowl, combine buttermilk, coffee and vanilla extract.
4. In large mixing bowl, beat butter until smooth. Beat in sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula; beat again. Alternately add flour mixture in three additions with buttermilk mixture in two additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Scrape down sides of bowl; beat again. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Invert each layer onto wire rack; remove parchment paper then invert right-side-up. Cool completely.
6. To assemble, level cakes (trim tops off), if desired, using serrated knife. Place dollop of frosting in center of cake pedestal or serving platter. Tear four strips of parchment paper and place in square around outer 3 inches of pedestal.
7. Place one cake layer over dollop of frosting. Spread about 1 cup frosting over top; sprinkle top evenly with about 1/4 cup chopped candy bar. Top with another cake layer; spread with about 1 cup frosting. Sprinkle with remaining chopped candy bar. Top with third cake layer. Cover top and sides with thin layer of frosting.
8. Refrigerate 15 minutes then cover with remaining frosting. With hands, press chopped candy pieces around sides of cake. After frosting has set, gently remove strips of parchment paper.
9. Cut cake into slices to serve.

Source: Texas Sweet, Roth Cheese, Nestle

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