Valentine's Fondue Party
Jan 30 '07
The Bottom Line Don't go out this year! Simply make a fondue party!
Valentine’s Day is a silly holiday, I know, but who doesn’t want to have an excuse to have a romantic dinner with a loved one? My only problem is when the night becomes so hectic. One year my husband didn’t make reservations and we waited 2 hours for a tiny table near the busy kitchen. Not my idea of a romantic dinner, and the bill was just under $100!
I got smart the next year and prepared my own gourmet dinner at home. It doesn’t have to be hard! And if you can’t get a babysitter on this the holiest day of lovers, this menu will be fun for the kids as well! Everyone loves fondue!
I generally follow the courses served at my local Melting Pot: Cheese, Salad, Main Dish and Dessert.
Cheese Fondue
INGREDIENTS:
· 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
· 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
· 2 Tbsp. flour
· 1 clove garlic, cut in half
· 1-1/2 cups dry white wine or chicken broth
· 1 Tbsp. lemon juice OR 2 Tbsp. Kirsch, if desired
PREPARATION:
Coat cheeses with flour by tossing together in a large bowl. Rub garlic on the bottom and sides of the fondue dish and discard, or rub garlic on bottom and sides of heavy saucepan. Pour wine or broth into fondue dish and heat just until bubbles rise to the surface.
Stir in lemon juice or kirsch, if using.
Gradually add floured cheese, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly over low heat, until cheeses are melted. You may add more cheese or wine, as needed, to reach the desired consistency. If you made the fondue in a regular saucepan, pour the hot fondue into a heated fondue pot set on a heating device (usually a rack that holds canned heat, or use your new electric fondue) and serve immediately. 8 servings
Mixed Green Salad - Serve with your favorite dressing.
Hot Oil: Fondue Bourguignon
Source of Recipe: Sharon Curtis
INGREDIENTS:
(2 lb) fillet steak
Tomato Sauce :
1 tablespoon oil
2 shallots finely chopped
1 clove garlic crushed
One (14oz) can chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato puree (paste)
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
PREPARATION:
To make the tomato sauce heat the oil in a saucepan add the shallots and cook gently until soft.
Stir in the garlic tomatoes with their juice and tomato puree (paste).
Season with salt and pepper bring to the boil then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes or until sauce has reduced and thickened. Stir in the parsley and serve hot or cold.
Cut the steak into 1inch cubes and put into a serving dish. Each person spears a cube of meat with a fondue fork and immerses the meat in the hot oil to fry. The meat cube is cooked according to individual taste.
Serves 4-6
Chocolate Fondue and Mexican style chocolate fondue
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound of dark chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream
Optional 4 tablespoons of liquor that you may use: Gran Marnier,
Kahlua, Frangelico, Amaretto or other liquor you like or have.
PREPARATION:
1- On medium heat, put heavy cream to boil.
2- Remove from stove and add chocolate. Lower the stove temperature and put the pot back, wait until chocolate is soft and then mix them
3- Add liquor. Transfer to a fondue pot.
Dessert Fondue garnishes
You may use any combination of the following:
Strawberries
Bananas
Apple
Pears
Cherries
Biscotti
Cookies
Pretzel
Cubes of pound cake
Angel cake
Orange pieces
Pineapple
Mango
Marshmallows
Mexican chocolate fondue
Follow the above recipe but add cinnamon and a vanilla bean to the chocolate. If the chocolate thickens, add milk.
If you prepare these, so much of the prep work can be done ahead of time and feeding each other on long forks can never be a bad thing. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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