Baked Fontina Appetizer Dip

This is a Barefoot Contessa Recipe that I love.  I'd never used Fontina cheese before this recipe.  It is delicious!  (It is really good on crackers with craisins too.)  Make this for a family style, one pot, dive in, appetizer!  Note, I've made this with fresh and dried herbs and either one works well.

 

• 1 1/2 pounds Italian Fontina Val d'Aosta cheese, rind removed and 1-inch-diced
• 1/4 cup  extra virgin olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced (or minced)
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 crusty French baguette

-Preheat the broiler and position the oven rack 5 inches from the heat.

-Distribute the cubes of Fontina evenly in a 12-inch cast-iron pan. Drizzle on the olive oil. Combine the garlic, thyme, and rosemary and sprinkle it over the cheese and olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and place the pan under the broiler for 6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling and starts to brown.
-Serve the baked Fontina family-style-right out of the oven in the cast-iron pan with crusty chunks of bread for everyone to dip.