Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Fondue Failures

So, I finally tried my hand at fondue. About 3 years ago Kannon suggested we make fondue on Christmas Eve as a new family tradition. I never got around to doing it then and wanted to make it for New Years Eve this year - but we were all sick. So I decided to make it work for Valentine's Day. I hadn't been feeling well and when it came time to make dinner I really didn't want to. That probably had an affect on the whole family. When we sat down to eat my negative attitude continued - I didn't know how to feed it to our 1 1/2 year-old - the fondue was burning (too much heat, I guess) or hardening (I'd take it off the heat and then put it back on). Sarah choked on the broccoli and Benjamin didn't like the "cheese stuff". So they were just eating bread and li'l smokies. What a nutritious dinner, huh? Kannon just ate and never said anything, so I automatically decided he didn't like it either (a continuation of my bad attitude). I was also going to make chocolate fondue for dessert, but I didn't feel well enough to eat it so we didn't have it then. (I'd been feeling fluish all day - I feel a little better the next day and then I was fine after that.) So, we had friends over Monday night and I was going to do the chocolate then. But....I just felt like it was a hassle. I knew we'd have the same children problem - how do you feed under-4's fondue without a huge mess? And I hadn't ironed out the heating problem. So, I just took the pound cake and sliced it. Put sliced strawberries on top of that with whip cream. I tried to melt the chocolate to drizzle over the top and totally burned it. But, no one complained and for the most part tasted good. I might need some pointers if I'm ever going to try again. Or maybe we'll have to save that tradition for when the kids are older. For now I'll stick to what I know works!

4 comments:

Nancy said...

I can see why you didn't want to do the whole fondue thing. Whenever we have something I'm not sure is right for Tyler, I just make him something else and usually feed him first. Then he can just snack on whatever it is we're having if he wants it. It sounds like fondue is definitely for adults (if you can get it to work). I have no experience with that, so I couldn't tell you how to fix the heating issues.

waterfallprincess said...

Hi Betsy! :o)

That sounds like fun! Don't give up without trying again (especially when you're feeling better) because sometimes things like this take practice to get it the way you want it. Here are a few links you can look at that might help:

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/feature/famf129fondue/famf129fondue3.html

http://www.islandfoodie.com/fondue%20and%20kids.htm

http://www.astray.com/recipes/?show=Fondue%20for%20kids%20(or%20adults%20with%20little%20time)">

As for the little kids, what about putting a little bit of the warm cheese (or chocolate) into a separate toddler-sized bowl for each child and then let them dip the food into it with their fingers? Then you just add more as they eat it.

Wolfley Family said...

What did you do for cheese sauce? I've never had the cheese turn out well for us...

Elizabeth "Betsy" said...

I ended up throwing the recipe away. I got it off bhg.com I think. I know it had cream cheese in it and regular cheddar(shredded). That's all I can remember. Sorry.