Friends Drift Inn Recipes
Chocolate and Strawberries Sweet Sweet Valentines!
This recipe appeared in the Appalachian News Express this past week
Down in the basement of our sorority house, there was a wonderment of party decorations, tablecloths, candleholders, and special serving pieces that were housed under lock and key by our dutiful house mother. Mom Maize was a woman of practicality. She was part of the Lexington horsey set, at once elegant and refined…yet earthy and homespun.
Valentines, Chocolate and Strawberries
One Valentine’s Day it fell to me to plan a special holiday entertaining event bringing pledges, actives and alumni together for an evening of small talk and bonding. Frankly, I was stumped. What could I possibly do to bring together blue haired diamond dripping alumni with collegiate girls sporting Ralph Lauren and add-a-beads?
I appealed to Mom Maize for help. She smiled knowingly and nodded. To my amazement, she got “the keys” and we went to the dungeon to plunder. Amongst the stacks of silk flowers, taper candles, and fancy napkin rings we found them. Forgotten for years, a dozen matching fondue sets were neatly boxed up like little presents from the founders.
Mom was gleeful. I was dubious.
She looked at me and said “Have you ever seen a woman turn down chocolate?” I studied on the query for a split second, shaking my head and grinning from ear to ear.
The evening went off without a hitch. Who among you does not want to dip strawberries, pineapples, marshmallows, pretzels, apples, and sugar cookies into a pot of melted chocolate?
That’s what I thought. Valentines is not about the money you spend…it’s about the time you spend. Grab some chocolate…and hang out with the folks you love. Share the giggles!
More Strawberry Dessert Recipes
Valentines Day Ideas
You do not have to have a fondue set to make this work. You could set a pyrex bowl on a rack and place a tealight under it to keep the chocolate in melted state. Fondue sets come with dipping utensils, but bamboo skewers will work just fine! Enjoy!
Chocolate Fondue Recipe
Chocolate, Dessert Recipe, Strawberry Dessert Recipe, Valentines Day
Ingredients
- ½ cup of heavy cream plus extra on hand if mixture becomes too thick
- 1 Tea Bag of Earl Grey (or 2 teaspoons of vanilla or other flavorings*)
- 14 ounces of bittersweet chocolate (you could use dark chocolate morsels in a pinch)
- ¼ cup of finely chopped almonds
- Pinch of salt
- Assortment of fruits, cakes, cookies for dipping
Method
1. In a heavy saucepan, warm ½ cup of heavy cream on medium heat. (For tea infused fondue warm cream on low heat for about three minutes. Remove from heat adds tea bag and let sit about an hour for other flavorings proceed forward)
2. Bring mixture up to a slow boil. Remove from burner and add chocolate. Let the mixture set about three minutes, allowing time for the chocolate to melt.
3. Using a whisk, mix ingredients together. Add flavorings, almonds and a pinch of salt.
The chocolate should be flowing, but not too thin. Pour chocolate mixture into a fondue pot and serve. Keep extra cream on hand should the chocolate thicken, adding about a teaspoon of cream at a time until reaching the desired consistency.
*When it comes to flavorings, let your own tastes be your guide. Feeling like a South of the Border fling? Try a little cinnammon and cayenne. Dreaming of a tropical vacation? Perhaps an orange liqueur or orange zest would suit you fancy. Ameretto, an almond flavored liqueur was created by a love sick lover for the woman of his dreams. Be adventuresome…make this recipe your own!
Makes enough for 4-6 Share the Giggles this Valentine’s Day!
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Friends Drift Inn Recipes, Gardening and Hot Flashes
Chocolate
Dessert Recipes
Easy Dessert Recipes
More Strawberry Dessert Recipes
I live in a barn and cook up a storm. I am not a debutante. I have hot flashes. I garden in red high heels. I like fat rascals, tea, and bourbon. Welcome to Friends Drift Inn!
