Perfect for St. Patrick's Day parties, this beer cheese fondue is made with Irish cheddar and Guinness, the stout Irish beer. Your friends will love this recipe. And once you have it made, you can leave it on low in a slow cooker or fondue pot and forget it. Best of all, it is self-serve; you just need to make sure you have enough because your guests will scarf this down. And don't worry if St. Patrick's Day is long past, this is a wonderful starter for any party, an appetizer for a dinner party, or a nice dinner for two in front of the fire.

GUINESS BEER & IRISH CHEDDAR FONDUE

Makes about 2 1/2 cups, enough for an appetizer portion for 8 guests

Serve with a brown hearty bread or French baguette cut into cubes

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs cheddar cheese (Irish cheddar, like Kerrygold, is great. Find it at most Whole Foods stores.)

1 1/2 cups Irish beer, like Guinness stout

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon dry mustard(like Coleman's)

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Dash cayenne pepper

salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

In a 2 quart fondue pan or heavy pot over medium heat, warm 1 cup of the beer until bubbles slowly rise to the surface, about 5 minutes. While you are waiting, mix the cheese, cornstarch, and mustard together in a bowl. Add the cheese mixture to the hot beer, one handful at a time, stirring until all the cheese is melted before adding the next. Stir until the fondue is smooth and bubbly, adding the other 1/2 cup of beer a little at a time to thin the mixture slightly, stirring constantly. Add the salt, pepper, cayenne, and Worcestershire. Stir well and transfer to a fondue pot or lower heat and let the mixture slowly bubble. Dip chunks of hearty bread, veggies, or fruit into the mixture. Warn guests that the mixture will be hot and do check the temperature from time to time.