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.

Video Games: A Way To Bring Parents & Kids Together? Sure!

I believe we should as parents spend as much time with our kids as we can. I think it is good for them and also for us.

I am thankful and very lucky that my daughter and I have a great relationship. It has come from consistent parenting over the years and being able to enjoy some of the things that she enjoys.

One of the things we do as parents is constantly complain about all the time our kids spend on these game systems. Yes, it can get out of hand and the kids never seem to want to quit playing. However, we as parents should take time to enjoy them with our kids too.

Yes, I said we can enjoy these games also. Of course, I am always busy with other things, but I make sure that my child always comes first in my life. I believe trying to enjoy some of the games and things she enjoys can only help the closeness and relationship we have built together.

My daughter, Nicole, has two game systems. She has Playstation 2 and Game Cube. Believe it or not I have actually played and done battle with my daughter on these systems. If you have two controllers and a game you can play with them, you would be surprised how much fun you can have.

It also makes you realize how involved you can get in these games, and maybe that will help you understand why these kids can get so addicted.




When you are playing you will be amazed how fast time can go, and then maybe it won't cause so much friction between parents and children.

Now I'm not saying to not set time limits or control the amount of time your kids spend on these systems. What I am saying is give these games a chance and spend some time enjoying them with your kids. You will be surprised how much you can really have in common with your kids.

I actually felt like a kid again myself, and at 46 years old sometimes that is just what I need to keep my relationship with my daughter happy and fun.

What's wrong with having fun with your kids? What's wrong with getting down to their level? It's just another way to turn something that is usually a negative with parents into a positive. Make these game systems bring you closer to your kids.

I also was happy how receptive my daughter was to me playing one of these games with her, and we had so much fun. Of course, she beat the pants off of me, but that was OK because we had fun together, and isn't that what it's all about?

Like I said before it doesn't mean to not set time limits. All I'm saying is get to know your kids and spend time enjoying the things they enjoy. Because let's face it -- these game systems are here to stay. You know the old saying "If you can't beat em' join em'.

So have fun with your kids, and get to know them better. You'll be surprised how close it can bring you to them.

Let's use these systems as a way to get closer to our kids, not a divider. It's just another reason to have fun and be a kid again yourself. Turn a negative into a positive and enjoy your children.

It will also make us understand where they are coming from with these games. I was shocked to see how time had past quickly. The other positive is that we talked before, during and after playing.

I used this as another way to get closer to my daughter, and what a blast we had. Try it with your kids and see how much fun you can have too!

We do battle with our children everyday; let's also do it in a positive way, thru video games.

Happy game playing!!!

Don't Complain Too Much; Winter Can Bring Families Together

I may be one of the few people who actually enjoys winter.

Yes, I love a good snow day. When it snows and you are in a nice warm cozy house, there isn't a better feeling in the world. Sitting by the window looking out with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa. What could be more enjoyable.

To allow your child to sleep in and not have to go to school is another thing I enjoy. It's a great feeling when your child wakes up at 8:00 am instead of 6:45 am and comes to you with the realization that there isn't any school today. Yippee!!!

As families we should all enjoy the amount of time we can spend together. It seems like it is always go, go, go, and not enough time to just sit and enjoy each other. The precious time we get to be together and have fun is few and far between.

I love to see my daughter playing in the snow with one of our dogs. Not only does she enjoy it, but the dogs love having her home to run around and play with them.

This week in our area is winter break, which breaks down to 10 wonderful days of being a family, being able to stay up late and wake up whenever you get around to it. This means no homework, no tension and plenty of time to enjoy the time you have together. This gives us all a chance to relax and truly be a family.

With my husband in a new job, a new year upon us and a week to breathe it is something I am already enjoying and it is only Monday.



My daughter and I can spend some much needed mom and kid time together. She can spend time with her dad and also get some one-on-one attention with him. You can feel the tension release and that is good for everyone.

My daughter also gets to spend time with my mom -- or Nana, as we Italians like to call Grandma, which is also good for both of them.

So when your kids get a day off or a week off look at it as an opportunity to spend quality time together. With the crazy world we live in sit back and relax for a change; we all deserve it!

Have a great day!

Back To Blogging!

It's been awhile since I have been on my blog, let alone write an entry. So much has been happening -- one of which was moving my family.

Moving alone can take up so much time and energy. Which doesn't leave time for much else let alone worrying about writing in my blog.

We are semi-settled and things are quieting down a bit. My dogs seem content with our new home, and my daughter has come to terms with some of the decisions her parents had to make over the last several months.

My husband now has a job and that is the biggest and most exciting part of our lives right now. After almost 9 months with no job, finally things are looking up.

However, that being said, there are so many other people still losing their homes and without jobs and with no food on the table. I know because back during the Christmas holiday we were in the same situation.

I am not ashamed to admit this and neither should anyone going through this type of turmoil. It upsets the family and can tear it apart. The best thing anyone can do is to hold your family together and get through it. You need each other for strength and support.

During the whole moving process I've been trying to keep updated on the mortgage crisis. As I watched television this morning, I still am seeing these lenders blaming this mortgage crisis on the American people.


That's their point of view and now here is mine. You want to place blame let's just do that, but let's be truthful about it.

I'll tell you first of all who is to blame is the government; plus banks, lawyers, and anyone else who has gotten rich during these turbulent times.

The government has allowed jobs to be lost. Jobs go overseas and we can't do a thing about it. Fair trade -- what a joke that is! When you're lucky enough to finally get a job you make probably half of the amount of money you were making before. Gasoline prices are through the roof. Natural gas has gone up in price, water has gone up, electricity has gone up, food prices have risen. The American workers have no jobs or make half of what they did before. You do the math.

Then you have these lenders who have the nerve to blame the average American for this crisis and say they will work with the homeowner, but that is a bunch of B.S. Lenders and the government have done nothing to help anyone. It's a big joke and a smokescreen to take the focus off of them.

Then you have the lawyers who have gotten rich off of this foreclosure crisis and people's misery. They charge you for sending a foreclosure notice. Duh, I think people know they are in foreclosure without a letter from a lawyer. But, gee thanks for letting so many families know. Without a letter from you we would have never figured it out. We appreciate the heads up! For that nice little letter they charge thousands of dollars. Probably as much or more than what you are behind on the house payments. How nice of them!

Then you have the wonderful lenders who say they will work with you, but guess what-- no they won't. It's all a joke and people have nowhere to go in some cases. Families are being torn apart and have no options.

Guess what, government? If no one has a job you get no tax money. No one in the government will do a thing because they are so rich and out of touch. They have no idea what it's like to struggle and lose everything you have after working so hard for so many years.

The city of Cleveland is suing these lenders. Good for them! That's the only way they will get the message. Hit them in the checkbook like they've hit many of us. I feel no pity for them whatsoever.

As for the border it still isn't closed. Our security is falling apart just like everything else. Just because we haven't been attacked here at home doesn't mean we won't be. We will, especially with a wide open border and everyone around the world knowing about it. The next attack will be far worse because they are just waiting for the chance.

Well, yes my husband has a job and I am grateful at least for that. I am not going to forget others who are searching for employment and trying to feed their families. I pray for you to find employment. I hope you can make enough money to support your family and keep a roof over your head.

As for help out there to keep your home most of us can't find any. It's sad to say, but many people have gotten rich off of this whole crisis. If you can live with that more power to you. I for one couldn't do that and am proud of that fact.

I hope everyone struggling right now will have peace of mind, and stay strong. The most important thing is to keep your family together. You can replace homes and money, but the people you love can never be replaced. Don't let anything or anyone tear that apart otherwise they really do have all the power!