Fondue Can Make An Ordinary Evening Special & Fun

I always try to make every day as special as I can for my family and tonight will be no exception.
The Academy Awards will be on this evening and it is always fun to watch it together as a family.

My husband's boss just sent him a beautiful gift basket to welcome him to the family of SET Magazine. His new position as the magazine's Sports Editor and also Editor in Chief of the SET Magazine Website is reason to celebrate alone, but combine it with the Academy Awards and it will turn into a fun family evening while also celebrating his new position.

It is amazing how may things can be turned into family time together. By making everything special it gets kids excited as you build it up. It makes them want to spend time with their family and that is always a good thing.

On top of the gift basket I am going to make fondue. This is truly a throwback from the 1970s, but I think it's fun. If you've never done fondue with your family before give it a try. The kids love it and as adults it isn't too bad either.

I typically make two different types of fondue. One is a cheese base and one is more of a dessert type with chocolate.

When you make any type of dish with wine the alcohol typically burns off as it heats through, so it's fine for kids. However, if you aren't comfortable just make the one with chocolate. Either one tastes great and are both safe for kids.

Classic Cheese Fondue

6 cups coarsely shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese (24 ounces)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 clove of garlic, halved
2 1/2 cups of dry white wine
2 tablespoons kirsch or dry sherry
dash pepper
dash ground nutmeg
French or Italian bread, cubed

Toss together cheese and flour; set aside.

Rub bottom and sides of fondue pot with garlic cloves, discard garlic.

Set fondue pot aside.

In a large saucepan heat wine over low heat till small bubbles rise to surface. Just before wine boils, stir in cheese, little by little, making sure cheese has melted before adding more. (Stir constantly and continue to add cheese till all is mixed in.)

Stir till fondue bubbles gently. Stir in kirsch or dry sherry, pepper and nutmeg. Pour into a fondue pot; keep fondue bubbling gently over fondue burner.

Serve with bread cubes.

Serves 10



Chocolate Fondue

8 squares (8 ounces) semisweet chocolate
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup milk

Assorted fondue dippers:

Angel Cake
Pound Cake
Banana (sliced in disc shapes)
Pineapple Chunks
Strawberries (always everyone's favorite)
Mini or Large Marshmallows

In a heavy saucepan melt chocolate over low heat. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and regular milk till well combined. Heat through.

Transfer to a fondue pot; place over fondue burner. (If mixture becomes too thick, stir in a little more milk.)

Spear desired fondue dipper with a fondue fork; dip into fondue and enjoy!!!

Serves 8

Making every day fun is what keeps families strong and together. Any reason to make something special will help your kids want to have more family time.

I really believe that kids want to be with their family -- even teenagers. As long as we as parents make things special and fun our kids will remain close to us and out of trouble.

Special times can be any time and you can make anything fun if you are creative and just try.