Happy New Year, two days late!
We woke up on New Year's Day with a fondue hangover that included the desperate need to rehydrate from the high salt content in our dinner (several small glasses of grappa had nothing to do with it). But after two years in a row of this fondue madness, we're convinced it's a keeper -- especially for the kidlings.
Along with Six and Q., my three nephews were completely immersed in their meals. As any parent knows, this is a tough feat to accomplish, especially with five boys, ages 2.5 to 7. When they were done -- all at the same time, of course -- they scurried back to the movie room where we had a projector playing Monsters, Inc. followed by Toy Story 2, thus leaving their parents to enjoy a meal free of interruptions. Q. popped out every 20 minutes for a "check in" hug from mom and dad, and back to the movie he went.
If you haven't tried a fondue dinner for dinner parties of 4-8 adults with kids in the preschool and up range, it's ideal. Here's what we dished with links to recipes:
For Dinner...
Basic Cheese Fondue: We went for the traditional cheddar cheese fondue this year. Instead of using milk, we took the advice of the commenters and used beer for some extra kick. Our selection: Mission Street Pale Ale. Yum.
Bagna Calda sans anchovies: I love an olive oil-based fondue but can't take the smell of burning anchovies. We omitted the wee fishes and added freshly squeezed lemon juice for flavor.
Our selection of dippers, as the kids call them, included:
-Sopresseta (and thick-sliced salami will work)
-Small cubes of ham
-Slices of mango sausage
-Slices portabello mushroom sausage
-Slices of hot dog
-Broccoli florets*
-Cauliflower florets
-Asparagus spears
-Fingerling potatoes
-Baby Carrots
-Cubes of crusty French and sourdough bread
*All the veggies were blanched and shocked with cold water. As for the kid's table, we gave them a bowl of warmed cheese instead of their own fondue pot because, you know, they're kids holding tiny pitched forks. No complaints.
Dessert...
Chocolate Fondue served with an assortment of Pepperidge Farm cookies. Pepperidge Farm makes mini versions of these cookies, which are fantastic for fondue. Alas, our local grocery store didn't have them on the shelves this year. We also used marshmallows and slices of banana, the latter being the dipper of choice.
The adults sat at the dinner table for hours listening to my pop-flavored NYE playlist while the kids were eye-glazed with their double feature and chocolate-induced paralysis. We managed to have real, uninterrupted conversations. A champagne toast ended the evening while watching the countdown in Dallas on my laptop (no television, remember?).
Fondue dinners have become a treat in the crazedparent house, with Six already asking when the next "special day" will take place (ahem, my birthday -- 14 days and counting!) so we can have another shin-dig. I don't think my arteries or my rear can take the cheese intake quite so soon, but you never know. That Six is quite convincing.
Sending out good vibes to all of you for a spectacular 2008! And if you make a mean fondue dish, share it!
