Pizza Fondue

Fondue is usually geared to adult tastes with strong flavors, but this easy and fun recipe is very kid-friendly.
There is lots of cheese with the only seasoning coming from the stewed tomatoes and salsa, so get the salsa your family enjoys and create a fun family meal. Blessings...

Recipe:

1 can (14.5 ounces) stewed tomatoes
1/2 cup tomato salsa
2 cups grated cheddar cheese (I use medium)
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
ground black pepper to taste
1 large loaf crusty bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
assorted vegetable dippers

1. Chop tomatoes into bite-sized or smaller pieces. Add salsa and bring to a simmer in a medium saucepan.
2. Slowly add the cheese, while stirring, to help it melt evenly. Grind pepper over the top.
3. Transfer to a fondue pot, crockpot or keep warm on the stove over very low heat.

Yield: serves 6 to 8
230 calories per serving

Chocolate Fondue-2

Fondue is the perfect dessert to serve after your family meal or to any
gathering of friends and family. Because it is Fall, I'm thinking football again because I know it is huge this time of year all over America. My
family loves the game, and food is always a big part of game day. I
was raised on the game by my father, who absolutely loved the game.
He believed in the San Francisco Forty Niners when there was
nothing to believe in and my mom, son and daughter-in-law are avid
fans of today's team. I couldn't tell you what kind of team they are, I stopped watching when Joe Montana walked off the field. Oh, well. This post is for you dad, you would have loved this fondue while you watched your guys. Blessings to all...

Recipe:

1 12-ounce pkg. semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup half-and-half
1-2 tbsps. brandy or 2 tsps. instant coffee

1. In a heavy saucepan, melt chocolate and cream over low heat, stirring until smooth.
2. Remove from heat and stir in brandy or instant coffee. Pour into fondue pot to keep warm.

Dippers: apple and banana slices, orange segments, cut up pineapple, fresh strawberries, chunks of pound cake, cubes of angel food cake and maybe for kids, marshmallows.

Note: I have a very easy recipe posted for pound cake, if you would like to make your own rather than buying one.
Note: You can also substitute 1-2 tsps. orange extract for the brandy. Be sure to taste the fondue after adding 1 tsp. as you don't want to add so much that it is overwhelming.

Chocolate Fondue for Very Easy Entertaining

This recipe is wonderful and so easy, that like the Cheddar Fondue recipe in my last post, children can join in the preparation. The recipe has only a few ingredients that are easily combined to make a rich, chocolaty fondue that coats cake cubes and pieces of fruit beautifully. This isn't a recipe that my granddaughters and I made, we had too many other desserts going on, but it is a dessert they would have loved. Like their grandfather, they just never thought they had enough chocolate. Blessings...

Recipe:

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (12 oz. pkg.)
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme
1/2 cup low-fat milk ( I use 1% with good results)
1 tsp. vanilla
Pieces of fruit such as banana, strawberries, and pineapple and pound cake cubes.

1. In a medium saucepan, heat the first five ingredients just until melted: whisk until smooth.
2. Transfer to a fondue pot or small crock pot to keep warm.

Yield: 4 cups

An Easy Fondue Recipe to Make With Children

While our granddaughters were visiting with us this past July, we spent a great deal of time creating memories together in the kitchen. This fondue was one of their favorite meals, and I love the ease of preparation when involving children. The twins were 10 years of age at that time, so they did very well with supervised time around the stove and with knives. We cut bread cubes, red potatoes and broccoli. We cooked the veggies until tender in boiling water and served them piping hot. I also had some sausage that I sliced and warmed through for dipping. What a fun meal for kids to help prepare, not to mention the wonderful time we had visiting as we worked, and then ate together. Our meal times with them were so special and the conversation created lasting memories for all of us. Blessings...

Recipe:

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 tsp. ground mustard
1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1-1/2 cups low-fat milk
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded medium cheddar cheese
Bread cubes, ham cubes, sausage pieces, red potatoes, broccoli florets, mushrooms, and anything else to your liking.

1. In a saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.
2. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
3. Reduce heat. Add cheese; cook and stir until melted.
4. Transfer to a fondue pot or slow cooker; keep warm .

Yield: 2-1/2 cups