Floating Holiday

This Valentine's Day post is coming a few days late because my husband and I will not be celebrating until Tuesday. So I'm keeping it real for all of the readers out there who also may have spent the holiday-o-love apart from their significant others. After all, it's not the date that matters, you can celebrate love any time!

So, for all of my fellow late celebrators, here are my favorite fondue recipes. I think fondue is the greatest way to spend a night in with someone you love. Even if only one person does the prep work, it's an interactive meal that leaves plenty of time for talking. I find that too often we spend only an hour of a "night in" sharing a meal, and the rest of the time watching TV. But fondue can take HOURS if you eat all three courses...and I can't imagine skipping one of them.

My husband always says he could eat only the first course - Cheese - but he never fails to eat the two that follow...

Cheddar Cheese and Beer Fondue
6 0z Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
4 oz Gruyere Cheese, shredded
4 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup Lager Beer, room temperature
1 tsp Dry Mustard

1. Combine shredded cheeses and flour in a bowl and mix it with your hands until all of the cheese is coated in flour.
2. Bring beer to a simmer over a medium heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
3. Add cheese mixture by the handful, stirring constantly.
4. When the cheeses is melted, stir in the dry mustard.
5. Transfer to the fondue pot.

*For dipping I like to use apples, bread and raw broccoli flourets.


Beef Broth with Red Wine, Leeks and Wild Mushrooms
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 Leek, white part only, chopped
1/2 cup Wild Mushrooms, chopped
5 cups Beef Broth
3/4 cups Red Wine
1 tsp Dried Thyme

1. Heat oil over medium heat. Add leek and mushrooms and saute for 3 minutes.
2. Add broth, red wine, and thyme and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
4. Transfer to the fondue pot.

*I usually use this for cooking filet, chicken and shrimp. I once used to for a dinner party with friends who don't eat red meat and I used chicken broth and white wine and it was still really good!


Chocolate Fondue
4 oz Milk Chocolate
4 oz Bittersweet Chocolate
1 cup Whipping Cream
2 tbsp Grand Marnier (or Amaretto...or Frangelico...whatever liqueur you like)

1. Fill a small pot halfway with water and bring that to a simmer. Set a glass bowl atop the pot, and heat the cream in the bowl.
2. Add the chocolate, stirring constantly, until it's all melted and smooth.
3. Tranfer to fondue pot.

*I like to use strawberries, bananas, marshmellows and mini pretzels for dipping.


Happy Belated Valentine's Day!