This might be taboo to say (especially keeping in mind how much my mom and I love to entertain), but we aren’t the biggest New Years Eve fans. You can point to the routine-loving hostesses that we are – or the fact that we firmly believe in an event ending before the next day begins – but long story short, NYE just isn’t our style! However, like we preach to ourselves time and time again, there is always room to make a moment, and New Years Eve is no exception…hence, a Raclette party!
Our NYE tradition…
Over the years, NYE for us has become somewhat of a “themed” gathering. We gather our closest friends and family and prepare a meal based around a part of the world or style of food. This year, we’re honing in on all things French!
We waited on touching French food for New Years because, well, if you’ve stuck around for long enough, you can probably tell we make it a lot. Like a lot. But since working for a French food and wine agency has opened my eyes to traditional French practices and techniques, I just HAD to share with my Francophile mom, and the family. With COVID still largely at the top of mind, it made sense to make a fun moment between the six of us and enjoy some Raclette!
About Raclette…
If you’re not familiar, Raclette is the process of using sliced Raclette cheese and a Raclette machine (yes, it’s a type of cheese AND a method all-in-one!) to DIY your dinner. Basically, you slice up an array of vegetables – we like zucchini, bell peppers, potatoes, and onions – boil some potatoes, and crisp a baguette and then let all of that wait while you melt your cheese in a personal-sized pan that sits underneath the machine. Then, you add the veggies to the top and let them cook on their own…
Don’t worry, I explain everything in detail below. All you need to know for now is that it’s addicting, wildly delicious, and will leave you feeling more satisfied than you thought you could be after eating your weight in cheese. Bon appetit!!
On to the steps…
Step #1: Lay Out *Everything*
This is the moment where you take stock of everything you have. Trust us, things can get lost in the fray with all of the odds-and-ends, so make sure you have all of your little materials.
Here’s our checklist:
- Raclette cheese
- Vegetables (zucchini, onions, bell peppers, potatoes)
- Baguette
- Prosciutto – if you’re adding meat to your table
- Raclette machine
- and of course…champagne!
Step #2: Slice The Sides
It’s time for the prep! Once you have everything ready to go, get to slicing! Its all up to your own preference, but we like all of the vegetables cut relatively thin so it can cook better on the grille. With the Raclette, however, we aim for thick rectangles. See the below pictures for examples!
Place all of the elements on plates or in bowls so it’s accessible across the table and can be easily passed from person to person!
Step #3: Prepare Your Table
Set your plates and bowls in an array on either side of the Raclette machine. The goal is to allow everyone to be able to reach across and grab whatever they need for their own concoction.
Place your preferred “accessories” on your own section of the grill and get to cooking! I like to have one or two pieces of Raclette bubbling below while my veggies sizzle above.
Step #4: Enjoy!
From there, the entire experience is up to you! Cook your veggies to desired done-ness and then place them back on your plate. As soon as you notice your Raclette becoming almost liquified and bubbly, you know it’s done.
Pour the Raclette on top of your veggies, bread, or meat and enjoy! It’s that simple.
This is the perfect meal for hosts who want to partake just as much as their guests. Plus, if you’re a cheese lover like we are, it’s a win win. Enjoy!!
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