Posts
Certain Someone and I needless to say were exhausted and jet lagged by the time New Years Eve rolled around. No overpriced parties and clubs for us. We decided to use the night as an occasion to catch up with couple who are old friends of ours. Last year Certain Someone purchased a Raclette grill for us. Many of his youthful single days were spent entertaining in this style. As I had kind of lost my kitchen mojo being inactive this was a perfect solution for New Years Eve. The first time I has Raclette was in Geneva visiting a friends house while in college. I remember the real authentic Raclette cheese . potatoes and the good wholesomeness of it. Certain Someone has taken more liberties than what I remember , but that even makes Raclette more fun.
Raclette is both a cheese and a type of grill with Swiss origins. It consists of a grill with individual melting pans and a grill top. Traditionally bread or small potatoes are served alongside melted cheeses, salamis and other charcuterie, vegetables, pickled vegetables,and toppings. One can assemble all sorts of creations to melt the cheese atop. Its communal , interactive, and very filling. Traditionally a good white wine is served with.There was an old superstition not to drink water with your raclette as the cheese balls formed in your stomach could expand and cause death. We served the following:
tuna
The next day Certain Someone actually cooked up this big baked gratin for us with the leftovers. He layered all the vegetables. meat , and cheeses with pasta. I have to say it was quite good and fattening. Just the right dish to kick of the New Year.
32 comments:
Sounds delicious. I've heard of raclette before, but didn't know there was a grill pan for it. The ingredients you chose sound perfect! Brings back memories of woks and hot pots. Haven't done anything like this in a while. Smart use of the leftovers, too! Happy New Year to you!
I love raclette! Your version looks great! I really like the leftover dish! Yummy!
Cheers,
Rosa
I love raclette - cheese, meat, olives etc - what's not to love!
Happy new year
I will need to put a raclette dish on my list for Christmas next year. It migght even become a Christmas Eve tradition!!
Raclette....it sounds fantastic as all the ingredients you used! we really love melted cheese and potato! We'd like to try and cook it.....remembering not to drink water with it! White wine is great!
Hug and kisses by Sabrina&Luca
I've never heard of raclette! This is very cool... and I can't believe this is what you serve when you're jetlagged... I'm so impressed!
Welcome home Courts - glad the trip went well. I was a bit jealous of you being there trying the authentic foods and beers in the "real" places. Your blog was most entertaining. Raclette eh!! now you are being bohemian (and I mean that nicely) - very "poor-University student" tucker but still with a little panache. Good choice and something I had quite forgotten about.
Happy blogging in '09 - and I'll be "happy reading".
I am also stopping by to say happy new year! I was on your blog yesterday, reading about Germany, but didn't end up leaving a comment. What a fabulous spread you had for New Year's! I didn't know anything about those raclette "machines." I must look into getting one. I love the stories about people melting the cheese in fireplaces and all that. Not having a fireplace, though, la machine may be the next best thing!
I was sick over the holidays, so I didn't cook; we just drank Champagne for NYE (medicinal, you know). Cheers.
I love raclette. wish I had one of those grill pans! Sounds like a fun evening:)
Never heard of reclette - you served 26 items with the reclette - what a good job done well. Yes jet lag can take a while to get over. Hope the new year sees you fit and happy. Great the certain someone can bake and did a gratin from the leftovers lucky you!!!!
cheese-cheese-cheese-CHEESE! wowwww!!!! Cheers to cheese (i am a cheese nut!)
Happy new year!
What a great way to spend New Years Eve! And with leftovers as well! The baked gratin looks DELICIOUS!
Hi Courtney :) Sounds like you had a fabulous Christmas in Germany. I backpacked Europe years ago but didn't manage Germany. Now I see I should have.
I love Raclette! Wish someone would give me a grill :( That superstition is just too funny! Good thing I always drink wine :)
Happy new year, sweetie. I hope 2009 brings you only the best.
That is a lot of amazing food! Looks lovely.
What a brilliant idea to serve your guests Raclette! and I love that day after dish, pure comfort food!
My first thought was: So typical CS! I've heared about his dinners with the poker guys, almost always raclette, I think. :)
Good to see that your New Year was nice, as well.
We were in Salzburg skiing a few years ago when I was first introduced to raclette. One of my friends is Swiss, and in her honor our Austrian friend's mother prepared it for us. I was so looking forward to some nice cheese and delicious bread after a hard day on the slopes. All I had to do was take one whiff of that cheese before I asked for schnitzel - again! Beautiful pictures.
I don't have a raclette pan - hmmm...now I have to do some research - I love the individual servings. Quiet New Year - the best!!! According to local stats, it's not a bad idea to stay home - lots of drunk drivers on the road.
this sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate the new year!! I wish you all the best for 2009!!
That's a whole lotta ingredients but hey, you were staying in the raclette meal is fitting for chit-chat and lots of wine during prep.
Happy New Year, doll!
oh this post brings back memories. i love raclette. i just wish i could find a raclette maker like we had in France. It was awesome b/c you'd put the whole block of raclette on this plate and then move it to bake under the heater. You would then use a knife to scrape the bubbling hot top layer of the block of cheese onto someones plate. that would be used with the various meats/veg that you have on this list.
ahhhhh, the memories. that, a big bottle of red wine and the knowledge that i just burned 3000 calories on the slopes that day equals pure happiness (and overindulgence!!).
HAPPY NEW YEAR COCO!
Happy New Year!
I'm sorry, Coco, this just looks like way too much fun!
Why was I not invited to a party of the epic proportions????Jokes. It looks like a lot of fun.
Ideal if you don't want to cook yourself. So the Germans like this as much as the Dutch ;)
Ohhhhh, what delicious fun!
Happy New Year, Courtney!
Happy New Year to you and that certain someone :)
Now you got me to thinking. I just may have one of those pans around here and I never knew quite what to do with it. Hmmm....will have to definitely check it out. Certain Someone did a marvelous job, thrifty too! I'm so glad you're home Courtney. Happy, Happy Healthy New year to you and that CS.
Happy New Year to you.
I've never heard of a raclette. Me like. :)
I have not done a raclette in awhile..now..I need to do one. Thanks for reminding me.
You've set me on a real nostalgia trip today what with Germany and then the raclette. A friend bought me an electric raclette years ago, I may have to retrieve it from the attic.
I've already said it... but Happy New Year! I love raclette - in fact I'm a fan of any sort of activity meal like this, especially when they feature cheese as a central ingredient ;-) Love the look of CS's leftover gratin too!
Post a Comment