Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Cut the top of the pumpkin (the first quarter of the fruit) to form a bowl. Clean the inside and remove filaments and seeds. Rub the inside with nutmeg and pepper. Butter the inside with half the butter. Place pumpkin in an oven-proof dish, cover with the top slice slightly off-centre and cook 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the pumpkin in nearly fully cooked. Meanwhile, melt rest of butter in a skillet and sauté onion and garlic 1 minute. Add apple cider and lemon juice and simmer 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and add the rest of the ingredients, stirring constantly until the cheeses are completely melted and mixed. Empty cooking juice from pumpkin, pour cheese mixture into pumpkin and cook in the oven another 20 minutes. In the meantime, prepare pieces of cheese or Irresistible pepper puffs. Serve with fondue forks and spoons to cut out pieces of pumpkin dipped in the melted cheese.

0 0 0 0

7 lb (3 1/2 kg) medium size pumpkin 1/2 tsp. (2 mL) ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp. (2 mL) pepper 1/4 cup (60 mL) butter, at room temperature 1 onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tsp. (10 mL) lemon juice 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) flour 1 sprig of fresh thyme 1/2 Tbsp. (7 mL) dry parsley 1/2*398 ml can artichoke hearts, drained and cut in small pieces 1/2 lb (225 g) Emmental, cut in pieces 1/2 lb (225 g) Oka, rind removed, cut in pieces 1/2 lb (225 g) medium cheddar, cut in pieces 2 red apple, peeled and grated Freshly ground pepper, to taste bread slightly stale