Cheesy Beer Fondue

Ingredients

• 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
• Cracked Wheat Beer Bread, recipe follows

Directions

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 to 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 with cubed Cracked Wheat Beer Bread.

Cracked Wheat Beer Bread:

1 (1-pound) box quick-mix cracked wheat-style bread mix

1 (12-ounce) bottle beer

2 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

Nonstick baking spray

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Follow ingredients on bread mix package substituting beer for the water. Stir chopped thyme into the melted butter, then stir into the bread batter. Pour batter into a loaf pan coated with baking spray. Bake until browned on top and tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then cube for fondue.

Yield: 1 loaf